Kids and Adults Design New Tech Tools

TL;DR

Design teams at the University of Maryland's Human Computer Interaction Lab partner with children ages 7-11 to create innovative technologies for young people.

Transcript

Narrator: At the University of Maryland's Human Computer Interaction Lab, design teams meet twice a week at four PM to devise new technologies for young people. And half the designers are kids ages seven through eleven. >>Dana: How much do you need? >>Two popsicle sticks, yeah, that's good. >>Where there's a clock and it tells you the time of the... Read More

Key Insights

• 👶 Children can be valuable design partners, bringing fresh ideas and perspective to the table.
• 🥺 Collaborative design processes can lead to more innovative and creative solutions.
• 💦 By working with children, designers can create technology that truly meets the needs and preferences of young users.
• 😤 Design teams have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients and organizations.
• 😘 Low-tech prototyping is a favorite technique among the design teams to quickly test and iterate ideas.
• ✊ Collaboration with local schools can help overcome power dynamics and encourage children to freely share their ideas.
• 👥 The design teams aim to create technology that is accessible and inclusive for all users.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do the children contribute to the design process?

The children work as equal partners with the adult designers, providing their own unique ideas and perspectives. They help come up with innovative designs and open up new avenues of thinking.

Q: What types of organizations do the design teams work with?

The design teams work with a variety of clients, including Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations. They have also worked extensively with the National Park Service and help improve their website and games.

Q: How do the design teams collaborate with local schools?

The design teams recruit members from local Maryland elementary schools. This allows them to work directly with children in the target age range and understand their needs and preferences.

Q: How do the design teams improve upon existing websites?

One example given is working on the website of a nonprofit organization called People in Need. The design teams evaluate and enhance the website to improve its user experience and make it more user-friendly for people in need in Haiti.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Children ages 7-11 work as design partners with adult designers at the University of Maryland's Human Computer Interaction Lab to create technology for children.

• The children's ideas often surprise the adults and lead to bigger and better designs.

• The design teams collaborate with local elementary schools and work with clients including Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations.