Stanford University Stanford Computer Science Department
Abstract    |    Introduction    |    Contacts    |   
   INTRODUCTION

History
   What is PD?
   Political Push
   Innovation
   Professionals
   The Developer

Philosophical Perspective
   Workers
   Design Philosophy

Competing
Strategies

   Expert Systems Design
   Usability Engeering
   Value Senstive Design


Participatory Design
Workers usually develop skills over time that are utilized in extraordinarily flexible ways. Computing systems, being finite, are unable to match the valuable input that a skilled work force can provide; however, it is clear that the automation of tedious or mundane tasks has tremendous advantage. Participatory Design is an approach to systems design that allows end-users to draw the line for automation with systems developers. They must work together in designing a computing system that will assist human beings in their work rather than to replace workers by taking over all of their work tasks.

There is concern that should a computing system render human beings useless productivity can diminish, worker satisfaction may decline and the quality of the product produced in a completely automated environment may be inferior and less innovative that products produced by a skilled work force. Therefore, Participatory Design suggests that the principle should be adopted that computers be tools that offer assistance and enhance human abilities in the workplace. Again, this means more than mere automation. It requires that the design of the system take into consideration the delicate balance of human/computer interaction, growth of human creativity and development of valuable skills in the workplace.




Product Development
   Obstacles
   Vendor Adoption
   Product Design

In the US
   New Context
   Obstacles
   Current Use
   Recommendations

References
   Bibliography
   Conferences
   Applied PD
   Journals
   Books
   Organizations
   Academia


Abstract    |    Introduction    |    Contacts