Generating Visions: Future Workshops and Metaphorical
Finn Kensing, Halskov Madsen
Abstract
This chapter is concerned with supporting the generation of visions for the future use of computers. A critical problem here seems to be that user-designer cooperation is poorly supported by current methods. Empirical research shows that while a lot of resources might be used on interviewing users about their current work, few or no resources are used in helping users and designers generate alternative ideas about how they would like their work situations to be in the future. These problems relate to cooperation between designers and users when generating visions, or, as Kalle Lyytinen says, when defining system goals. The process of creating visions about future work situations should be explicitly supported and derive from an interplay between the competence of users and designers. The circulation control system and cataloguing systems were under consideration by the chief librarian.