Theme 5: Design research

 Reflect on the key points and what you learnt by reading the text

This text gave me insight about what actually i happening in our technology-society right now. If you just are into buying a simple laptop, there are a lot of design-proposals that you can choose from. If you just look at the two major computer-companies (apple and windows) you could reflect on the choice that everyone makes when buying one of these computers. Assuming that the person isn't depended on money when buying a computer, than I believe that the choice that is made is most relevant to the design. If the person isn't interested in the actual technological aspects of the software or brand that is in a computer, the design in this case it could refer to the actual look of the computer, usability or what typ of experience the person has using a computer or a software.  
I would say that the things that I've learned is that I will bring the insight i got reading this text when I in the future are going to buy a certain product.   
The question that I would ask is, does this type of design affects the way the different gender could be a problem. For instans a racer-blade is the exact same technology, but the product is directed to both men and women, could this be a problem for society regarded the design?

2. What role will prototypes play in research?

I believe that prototypes will have a very huge role in research, especially if it is a reachers that has the aim of creating a new product. To create a product the researchers should in an early stage test this product at a pretty early stage. This is because a field-study, with a large variety of people with different ways of living gives an early message to those that are researching within this project if something needs to be changed in the design. 

3. Why could it be necessary to develop a proof of concept prototype?

A proof of concept prototyp is, according to wikipedia "a realization of a certain method or idea to demonstrate its feasibility", and I think that the answer lies just there. To further develop a prototyp who's technology is relatively new, you need to make sure that this technique actually works in full scale. I however I believe that the proof of concept prototype doesn't need to be tested as large on some technology that already exist.   

4. What are characteristics and limitations of prototypes?

I think that the characteristics are the limitations. If you have a focus group thats testing the prototype the prototype won't actually be finished when tests are done. This is i believe the limitation but it is also the purpose of a prototype. This is something that I believe will distract the test-grope so instead of focusing on the actual product that will be finished, the test-group will put lots of focus on whats not there.