A Living Laboratory Exploring Mobile Support for Everyday Life with Diabetes

The paper presents the set up of a Living Laboratory in a city of North Denmark exploring mobile support for everyday life with diabetes. Background and definitions of the living lab method is presented together with descriptions of the technical setup, applications and explorations. The living lab method was practiced over two iterations—one in 2008 and one in 2009. 17 diabetes families, 9 service providers, researchers and ICT-consultants has participated in the activities. The results present how the living lab method provides an open platform for exploring technology in naturalistic settings combined with controlled activities, technical set up, support and data collection. The meetings of users, researchers, developers, and service providers in the living lab showed how living labs are an open platform supporting interactive learning among participants on technological innovations. The living lab method as combined here with a user-driven approach is an example of how designers can carry out and gain from working with people as co-creators in design projects.

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