The Cultural Component of HCI Presented by: Candice Lanius September 5 th, 2013

Assignment One: Users as Individuals: Effects of Personality and Culture Examine separate individual’s characteristics and consider their cultures in order to discuss how each affects the way that people view, use, and react to a human- computer interface. Develop any form for the comparison you want, but select the people and cultures you examine as follows: 1. You, in your own culture, 2. Someone from your own culture, but with a different background or working in a different context than yours, and 3. Someone from a different cultural background (national, ethnic, occupational, etc.)

What is culture?  Shared beliefs and practices  It Unifies and Divides  Includes the common features of Identity: Class, Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Age, Occupation, Education, Tastes, Hobbies, Etc.

An IRL Macro Example African Diaspora Communities in Europe  Seeking economic opportunity, and/or  Asylum from domestic turmoil.  Desire to remain in contact with their communities of origin: - Communication - Money exchange

Remittance Flows Create a program or application which allows European immigrants to securely, cheaply, and conveniently send money back to their relatives. The Problem Huge Industry: 514 Billion US Dollars Sent Annually Cost to send 200 USD, %

Where do designers traditionally start? Technical Capabilities Question: How often do you use a web browser? Response: “Very rarely, we have to travel to the town center to access internet.” Assumption: They lack widespread communication technology- infrastructure. Cultural Conventions Question: How many family members do you have? Response: “I consider my entire community to be my family.” Assumption: Weaker security standards to allow multiple access points.

Where should we start? Technical Capabilities Question: How often do you use a web browser? Do you stay in touch with family? How? Response: “Yes, I talk to them once a week on my cellphone.” Inference: Cellphones are convenient and widespread. Cultural Conventions Question: How many family members do you have? What is your home life like? Response: “Great! I live with my father, brothers and sisters.” Inference: Only need a few security access points for extended families.

Design Solutions with Problems Online Banking Pros: Secure and Moderately Priced Cons: Inconvenient Banks and Kiosks Pros: Secure Cons: Inconvenient and Costly

Cellular Bank Transfers such as M-Pesa Pros: Secure [Bank Pins], Convenient [Phones are widespread/ shared], and Cost Effective [Quick and cheap]. Cons: None Well-Designed Solutions

Summary: Basic Ethnographic Practices Start with a familiar topic and build knowledge outwards; be Conversational. Do not make assumptions about the group being investigated: Ask open-ended and rich questions, not “yes”/ “no” or numerical questions. Share the outcomes of your research with your participants for verification and feedback. Address the individual’s needs, desires, and expectations