Designs can talk: A case of feedback for design evolution in assistive technology

Abstract

Design science researchers gain insights and make improvements on their designs, as they are applied in natural contexts. Software artifacts are particularly useful design instantiations because feedback can be obtained directly from the artifact. A software design talks to its designers. We illustrate software design feedback with a case study in assistive technology (AT). A specialized emailing system was designed for cognitively impaired patients in an effort to decrease their social isolation, which often occurs after a brain injury. The patients continue to expand their email system usage, which is remarkable for AT. We attribute this unusual success to the feedback obtained directly from the software, through monitoring user goal models. Such monitoring has allowed the designers to understand and evolve their designs to meet the changing user needs. It illustrates how an operational artifact, like software, can drive design evolution faster than artifacts that are more static. © The Authors 2008.