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Interactive tools supporting agriculture in the wine industry
Author(s)
Claassen, Hester
Date Issued
2012
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
To design from a human perspective rather than from existing technological opportunities, and
involving multiple stakeholders with their different perspectives, is an important aspect of
participatory design and user-centered design. This thesis project was an explorative study
done on a wine estate, in the Western Cape, South Africa, to find novel ICT solutions, for
supporting co-operation and planning between multiple and individual work tasks in the work
practice. This research explored potentials to manage multiple stakeholders and use their
different perspectives to inform design research. The thesis project shows the ethnographic
research gathered through video shadowing, workshop results involving the users to contribute
to the development of the design by acting with a projection, leading up to a design opening and
further focused on the concept development with the stakeholders.The thesis proposes a simulated concept namely the Visual Calculator (VC). This system is
designed to involve several participators within a work practice. It supports calculation activities
for spraying and buying chemicals. It saves the user time by incorporating standard calculations
to output needed information faster. It supports planning, management and record keeping
aspects of the farm manager’s work practice in the vineyard spraying process. Although the
concept was more fully developed for the farm manager, the VC involves two other work roles
including the owner and foreman. The concept focuses on a human centered perspective,
instead of making the system fully automated, giving users control and not controlling the users.
For this to be successful work should be divided and have equal responsibilities, each
stakeholder can contribute and value their part of the work, knowing where it fits in, why it is
important and how it influences other aspects of the work practice. The research outcome
involves, envisioning the future potentials of the design (VC), design for participation, a way to
identify design openings, problem solving and conceptualizing by utilizing user’s strengths.
involving multiple stakeholders with their different perspectives, is an important aspect of
participatory design and user-centered design. This thesis project was an explorative study
done on a wine estate, in the Western Cape, South Africa, to find novel ICT solutions, for
supporting co-operation and planning between multiple and individual work tasks in the work
practice. This research explored potentials to manage multiple stakeholders and use their
different perspectives to inform design research. The thesis project shows the ethnographic
research gathered through video shadowing, workshop results involving the users to contribute
to the development of the design by acting with a projection, leading up to a design opening and
further focused on the concept development with the stakeholders.The thesis proposes a simulated concept namely the Visual Calculator (VC). This system is
designed to involve several participators within a work practice. It supports calculation activities
for spraying and buying chemicals. It saves the user time by incorporating standard calculations
to output needed information faster. It supports planning, management and record keeping
aspects of the farm manager’s work practice in the vineyard spraying process. Although the
concept was more fully developed for the farm manager, the VC involves two other work roles
including the owner and foreman. The concept focuses on a human centered perspective,
instead of making the system fully automated, giving users control and not controlling the users.
For this to be successful work should be divided and have equal responsibilities, each
stakeholder can contribute and value their part of the work, knowing where it fits in, why it is
important and how it influences other aspects of the work practice. The research outcome
involves, envisioning the future potentials of the design (VC), design for participation, a way to
identify design openings, problem solving and conceptualizing by utilizing user’s strengths.
Additional information
Thesis (MTech(Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012
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