Innovating for and by users
A COST 298 publication edited by Jo Pierson, Enid Mante-Meijer, Eugène Loos and Bartolomeo Sapio
‘The present book (…) presents a collection of inspiring research results on the integration of interdisciplinary perspectives on the role of users in communication technology.’
Foreword by Janez Potocnik, European Commissioner for Science and Research.
What is the role of people in the development of digital media? What are the enablers and constraints for the appropriation and diffusion of broadband technologies and services in Europe? In what way do technological innovations become part of everyday life of people? What are the best methods and approaches to identify the creativity and optimal experience of ICT users from a bottom-up perspective? These are just some of the issues being addressed in this book.
The book looks at socio-technological transitions and shifting roles of users in the design and innovation of broadband technologies and digital media. The different chapters aim to shed more light on the ‘black box’ of design and use of ICTs. In this way we hope to contribute to the empowerment of people in their relationship(s) with new media and - through this - to increase the quality of their social life. The title ‘Innovating for and by users’ refers to insights on how to innovate by involving users more intensely in the design of technological innovations, which can lead to innovations that create more benefits for these users.
The different authors deliver a timely reality check on the current broadband society in Europe from a users’ perspective, in a general (theoretical) sense as well as in specific domains (digital television, e-publishing, care sector...). This is done in an interdisciplinary way by integrating social science views and engineering approaches. It gives innovative insights based on state-of-the-art academic and industry-driven digital media research in various European countries.
The book will appeal to industry and academic researchers in media and communication studies, social studies of technology, digital media marketing and other domains that investigate the mutual relationship between media technologies and society.
Publication date: 2008
The table of contents can be downloaded here in pdf-format.
The official PDF of the book (with an alternate cover) is available from the EU Bookshop.
If you want to be kept informed about this book, please leave your contact details here. For more information on COST 298, please visit: http://www.cost298.org
For other inquiries about the book, please contact Jo Pierson.
