Comments on: Notes from Paul Dourish presentation at CHI http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2006/05/09/notes-from-paul-dourish-presentation-at-chi/ mind/tech bazar from outer space Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:47:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 By: Nicolas http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2006/05/09/notes-from-paul-dourish-presentation-at-chi/#comment-102324 Nicolas Wed, 10 May 2006 15:24:49 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2006/05/09/notes-from-paul-dourish-presentation-at-chi/#comment-102324 Agreed Anne And besides I like the "forgetting" thing, I'd be happy to do this more often in some conferences of my field As for the titles, I hate this kind of discussion, it's indeed not on my list of important things to address. Agreed Anne

And besides I like the “forgetting” thing, I’d be happy to do this more often in some conferences of my field

As for the titles, I hate this kind of discussion, it’s indeed not on my list of important things to address.

]]> By: anne http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2006/05/09/notes-from-paul-dourish-presentation-at-chi/#comment-102323 anne Wed, 10 May 2006 14:40:49 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2006/05/09/notes-from-paul-dourish-presentation-at-chi/#comment-102323 My point was that sociologists and anthropologists already know this - and he would be preaching to the converted there. Of course HCI and engineering are not already "converted" - that's why Paul has to - and can - write articles like this. When I wrote my position paper for a CHI workshop, I made forgetting "relevant" to design. In my fields, forgetting is always already relevant. We write for different audiences in different ways, for sure. But I think I'm at the point where I don't much care who calls themselves an ethnographer - it is simply one of many qualitative methods. I've still been trained as an anthropologist and that means I'll do it in particular ways that offer some advantages - and some disadvantages - compared to design or engineering ethnography, for example. In any case, I'm sure we'd both agree that the question of "appropriate" titles is the least of our tech design-related "problems" ;) My point was that sociologists and anthropologists already know this - and he would be preaching to the converted there. Of course HCI and engineering are not already “converted” - that’s why Paul has to - and can - write articles like this.

When I wrote my position paper for a CHI workshop, I made forgetting “relevant” to design. In my fields, forgetting is always already relevant. We write for different audiences in different ways, for sure.

But I think I’m at the point where I don’t much care who calls themselves an ethnographer - it is simply one of many qualitative methods. I’ve still been trained as an anthropologist and that means I’ll do it in particular ways that offer some advantages - and some disadvantages - compared to design or engineering ethnography, for example.

In any case, I’m sure we’d both agree that the question of “appropriate” titles is the least of our tech design-related “problems” ;)

]]> By: Nicolas http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2006/05/09/notes-from-paul-dourish-presentation-at-chi/#comment-102313 Nicolas Wed, 10 May 2006 13:11:52 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2006/05/09/notes-from-paul-dourish-presentation-at-chi/#comment-102313 I don't agree with the fact that he is preaching to the converted... when the converted should be designers and engineers who are FAR from getting this. However, it's true that corporate ethnography is (unfortunately?) divorced from anthropological ways of understanding. I don’t agree with the fact that he is preaching to the converted… when the converted should be designers and engineers who are FAR from getting this.

However, it’s true that corporate ethnography is (unfortunately?) divorced from anthropological ways of understanding.

]]> By: anne http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2006/05/09/notes-from-paul-dourish-presentation-at-chi/#comment-102301 anne Wed, 10 May 2006 11:45:30 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2006/05/09/notes-from-paul-dourish-presentation-at-chi/#comment-102301 Well, both Genevieve and Jan are anthropologists - not just ethnographers or designers. As we know, what makes anthropological ethnography different from, say, ethnomethdology or "generic" ethnographic methods in design is anthropology's focus on more *holistic* human processes and practices - not just (technological) problem-solving. As far as anthropologists are concerned, Dourish is preaching to the converted. One would only have to make such an argument in HCI where ethnographic methods are somewhat divorced from broader anthropological ways of understanding. As my 13 and 14-year old students learned last week - anthropologists study *everything* that has to do with people. What makes our work "special" is *how* we do it. Well, both Genevieve and Jan are anthropologists - not just ethnographers or designers. As we know, what makes anthropological ethnography different from, say, ethnomethdology or “generic” ethnographic methods in design is anthropology’s focus on more *holistic* human processes and practices - not just (technological) problem-solving.

As far as anthropologists are concerned, Dourish is preaching to the converted. One would only have to make such an argument in HCI where ethnographic methods are somewhat divorced from broader anthropological ways of understanding.

As my 13 and 14-year old students learned last week - anthropologists study *everything* that has to do with people. What makes our work “special” is *how* we do it.

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