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Contextual Invention: A multi-disciplinary approach to develop business opportunities and design solutions
HPL-2005-18
Keyword(s): No keywords available
Abstract: This paper describes a new research methodology, which
brings together ethnographic, business, design and
technical research in a focused way. Various
combinations of these disciplines have been used
together in the past, both inside HP Labs and in the
wider industry. However, all four disciplines are
rarely harnessed together in the pursuit of innovation
and new business opportunities. We aim to do this in a
principled user-centered way, by using a deep
understanding of user and cultural needs to drive
design ideas, business modeling and technological
investigations. This approach can be seen as an
extension of Contextual Design in which social and
cultural factors are considered in the deployment of
an existing technology. We call this approach
Contextual Invention because the aim of the social
science research is to inspire and generate new
technology inventions with high social and business
value. To develop and test this new approach, HP Labs
India initiated a project towards understanding user
needs and deriving concepts, at the same time
providing sustainable business models for the end
customer. The project was successful in creating
business opportunities and design concepts that were
at the intersection of user needs, design, business
models and technology feasibility. Notes: David M.
Frohlich, HP Labs Bristol, UK.
14 Pages
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