I am now back in UK and it is time to reflect on the first part of the week in Uppsala. The Ethics Roles in Interaction Design in Developing regions workshop was part of wider conference Interact 2009 whose aims were to bring together Researchers and Practitioners to consider issues of Human Computer Interaction.
Our workshop was made up of practitioners and researchers some of whom were Masters degree or PHD students whilst some were University lecturers. Several themes emerged over the course of the two days and were captured as a resource for Researchers to draw upon "before they go"
Whilst some questions remained an answered too. Is there a role for ICT in international development? How do we know this? Are Researchers in this field out there to find answers or to provide solutions to problems and if so whose problems are these anyway?
What is the role of a researcher in such circumstances? What are the things that a Researcher must know before they go? How do Researchers organise access? What is in it for the community and practitioners, sure not merely shiny beads?
An issue that was raised at this workshop that is often overlooked is one of disability in the developing world. Whilst here in the West a lot of work has gone into protecting the rights of people with disabilities, this is not necessarily no in many parts of the developing world. Chui Yin Wong a Malaysian ICT Professor presented a paper on enabling deaf people to access mobile technology you can read it here
Going back to the issue of defining problems Martin Konzett, Martin Tomtisch and Thomas Grechnig, presented a paper on their Research in Zanzibar in which they attempted to enable Seaweed Farmers to earn more for their produce, but failed (for now).
What this Research highlighted in my minds eye is the importance of understing how communities in developing regions are organised. This involves asking questions of what we have observed to be going on as opposed to wading in with a solution,as there is always a reason and often a good one why things are done certain way.
It is of course impossible for Researchers to know everything that there is to know and as well as the consequences of their presence or Research on the communities in the developing regions. Organising access is always a delicate matter, there issues of Culture and Perception and how you over come those.
The Ethical issues involved in Interaction design for the developing regions were very high on the agenda, with the starting position of "DO NO HARM" as an accepted rule of thumb. It was agreed that where ever possible Researchers and Practitioners should avoid reinforcing "IMPERIALISTIC ATTITUDES", seek to foster equitable practices through participatory design
The hard work starts now to continue building a resource that will allow Researchers and Practitioners to learn from each other. Yes you have guessed it the resource is technology based the first of which is a Twitter hash tag #design4dev and a Twitter league, with many more to come, when the rest of the conference draws to a close.
Would be interested in hearing your views on any of the issues raised here
