Overview
The purpose of a cultural probe is to get a better understanding of a user group before you actually begin research. This aids in focusing actual primary research so that time and resources are not wasted. The cultural probe is a package filled with items that the user can interact with and then return.
Process
This probe was aimed at baby-boomers over the age of 60 that reside in San Francisco. This group went through adolescence during the 60’s and the contents of the probe reflected that.
Concept
The package itself was a gender-neutral bag style reminiscent that was popular in the 60’s. The first item in the bag was a card that when opened played the song “Free Ride.” Other contents included maps of San Francisco, sticky notes, a camera, and a diary. These items were meant to provide insight into the activities of the participants through their interactions with their environment and the supplies given.
The purpose of a cultural probe is to get a better understanding of a user group before you actually begin research. This aids in focusing actual primary research so that time and resources are not wasted. The cultural probe is a package filled with items that the user can interact with and then return.
Process
This probe was aimed at baby-boomers over the age of 60 that reside in San Francisco. This group went through adolescence during the 60’s and the contents of the probe reflected that.
Concept
The package itself was a gender-neutral bag style reminiscent that was popular in the 60’s. The first item in the bag was a card that when opened played the song “Free Ride.” Other contents included maps of San Francisco, sticky notes, a camera, and a diary. These items were meant to provide insight into the activities of the participants through their interactions with their environment and the supplies given.
This is how the probe would look when the participant in the study receives it.
I enjoyed working with my team on this project immensely. We named ourselves Team Awesome.
The Participants were instructed to use the map, sticky notes, and stickers to highlight or explain areas of interest in their lives.
The card was meant to inspire a sense of interest in the probe, and inspire a sense of cooperation with the participant.
