According to the article, it mainly research interaction techniques to increase the presence of the elderly in their local communities.
Q1:What is a Cultural Probe and why is it a useful tool for designers?
From the second paragraph，we can get culture probe are all kinds of materials —were designed to provoke inspirational responses. and left them behind when we had gone and waited from them to return fragmentary data over time.
Also, the probes were part of a strategy of pursuing experimental design in a responsive way. it lead a discussion with the groups toward unexpected ideas. Like the postcard which encouraged questions to be approached casually.
Q2:What do the authors mean by the phrase “inspiration, not information”?
From the fifth paragraph，due to the artists designer approach is openly subjective, only partly guided by any “objective” problem statement. Thus, author were after inspirational data” with the probes, to stimulate their imagination rather than define a set of problems. Instead, a more impressionistic account of their belief and desires, their aesthetic preferences and cultural concerns. Just trying to be a provocateurs, shaped the probes as interventions that would affect the users.
Q3:How did the author’s cultural Probes inform their design work? What was successful about their research method in this example?
Author research about increase the presence of the elderly in their local communities. As the Second paragraph said, the probes were part of a strategy of pursuing experimental design in a responsive way. And want to lead a discussion with the groups toward unexpected ideas. For example, The content concerned the elder’s attitudes towards their live, cultural, environments, and technology and open a space of possibilities, allowing users as much room to respond as possible.
In context, author defined the goal that better understand their particularities by diversity of the sites. From research, author concentrate on aesthetic control and open new space to design. And use scientific theories to inspiration, provide opportunities to discover new pleasures.
In the end, to establish a conversation with group by overcome distance that try to design the materials to be as visual as possible.
In manner of aspect, view them in new ways and offer them opportunities to appreciate their environment.