Using user centered perspectives in design - Deepankar Bhattacharyya

 In the negotiation of non-automated tasks and processes in any given system and also to understand the challenges that emanate from outside system boundaries such as the social, cultural, economic, political framework in which the system exists, a nuanced understanding of a variety of people is useful. 

This approach recognizes that any non-automated subsystem becomes alive when the people involved become important components to consider. 

A user centered perspective of such subsystems can look at components and connections as dynamic sets of events, the nature of which is hugely influenced and determined by people within the subsystem interacting with each other and with others such as patients in a hospital who may have a more transient interaction with it. 

While this post does not explore the challenges of discovering and understanding problem areas, it does explore the solution space of discovered problem areas. 

This is especially true in the design of communication, digital, UX and spatial solutions needed for enhancing user experience and easing communication flows within said subsystem as well as outward facing solutions designed for transient users where participation of humans is essential. 

It is easy to see that to design solutions for differently abled individuals, understanding of specific human perspectives is essential. Extend this to children, the illiterate, the culturally different etc. 

Let us explore needs in case of an emergency in a fixed space. 

An auditory alarm will be sufficient for many and will probably reach 99.7+% of very different people which is in the region of standard deviation 3. What is the range of visual alarms needed? How does one design for evacuation flows? 

Similarly one can consider scenarios when a standard deviation of 1 or 2 will suffice and design baskets of solutions that are suitable for different groups within that range.  

This helps us to arrive at an estimate of the range of solutions needed for various tasks. Within such ranges one can fine slice offerings to reach people with more nuanced differences. 

Any set of tasks and processes within this subsystem would require similar consideration and should be worked on in collaboration with other professionals in multidisciplinary teams. 

Will we then find user centered perspectives built on user centered information useful?