Some Problems in the Traditional Approaches to Predicting the Use of a Technology-driven Invention

While direct user involvement has started to find its way into commercial product development, most companies still rely on more traditional ways to investigate and represent users. This paper is a case study of the methods and means employed by small high-tech companies in their effort to learn about the users of their emerging new technology through the use of market surveys, user interviews, design studies and pilot use. Theoretically, the discussion focuses on how users' anticipation of their future needs co-evolves in relation to the changing social and technical environment. The gradual emergence of user needs sheds light on some of the shortcomings of the methods representing the users employed in the case studied. It may also help us to explain some of the success of participatory design methods and adjust the existing methodologies for studying user requirements.

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