Prototypes and Archetypes: Coping with Adult Behaviour in the Development of Information Systems for Children

Abstract

The developmental lifecycle of a novel and untried human-computer interface, from drawing board conception to real-world implementation, is always likely to encounter, and often encourage, internal political debate. This chapter addresses, through reference to a user-centred, virtual reality based, project within English Heritage (EH), some of the human, technological and economic concerns that often arise within such debate. The chapter discusses the early requirement to secure internal sponsorship, or ownership, of the project, in an organization with little previous experience of user centred HCI issues. It then traces progress through to the, perhaps surprising, situation of too many potential owners, the number of whom grew as understanding of usability and wider acceptance of the project’s potential became apparent. The chapter focuses on several of the perceived, and real, problems that the project encountered; and illustrates how, through prototype demonstrations, technological reassurances, and consistent reiteration of the targeted users’ viewpoint, the project responded to each of these challeges. Discussing the development process of the PastScape project, Chapter 8 illustrates some of the ways EH has been addressing the pervasive, and sometimes intrusive growth of Information Communication Technologies (ICT).