Need Finding for Assistive Technologies
Gayle Curtis ¹ & John C. Tang, PhD ^2
1 UX Design Consultant & ² Microsoft Research

Abstract: When we look at the drivers of innovation we see two complementary themes emerging: new technologies or methods that open the way to new solutions, and new insights or experiences that bring a better understanding of the problem. With a design thinking approach, we first look to build empathy with the user and the situation, then we use ideation, prototyping and iteration to explore, formulate, and test solutions.

In this class session we will go into more depth with the candidate projects and build our understanding of the problem areas. We want to learn more about the user needs, goals, and values around the problem, as well as the constraints and requirements of the situation itself. One goal for this session is for you to identify a set of questions that you want to address through interview and observation with real users of assistive technologies, as well as some good ideas about people that your team might talk to and work with to inspire both innovation and relevance for your project.

Gayle Curtis is a design consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in user interface architecture and design strategy for online ventures and interactive products. Recently he was Principal Interaction Designer at Yahoo!, where he developed a practice area in strategic ideation and disseminated it through workshops in the US and Asia. At Stanford he has taught courses in HCI and Product Design. Gayle is a graduate of the Engineering Product Design program at Stanford.

John C. Tang is a Senior Researcher at Microsoft Research where he designs and studies new tools to support distributed collaboration, which he uses to connect with his research team up in Redmond, WA from Silicon Valley, CA. John's approach combines understanding users' needs through social science methods with designing and prototyping new technologies. John graduated from the Design Division at Stanford University.

• Thursday, January 16th - The Transdisciplinary Team: Bridging the Gap between Consumers and Products in Rehabilitation Medicine
• Tuesday, January 21st - Perspectives of Stanford Students with a Disability
• Thursday, January 23rd - The Design and Control of Exoskeletons for Rehabilitation

Would you like to participate in the assistive technology faire? - This repeat event - scheduled for Tuesday, February 11th - will provide an opportunity for students and community members to get an up-close look at a variety of devices and learn about available services. If you are a vendor of assistive technology products or supply assistive technology services and would like to participate, please contact me. Everyone is welcome to attend the faire.