Matthew+Oh+Week+8

=Human-Centred Design Case Study of Cellphones in Developing Countries =
 * || Back to Matthew Oh's personal page ||  || Week 7 ||   || Week 9 ||

Jan Chipchase is a human interaction researcher for Nokia. His job is to go to developing countries and observe people as they use their cell phones. His work allows Nokia to receive input from the people they are designing phones for. This leads to Nokia's phones being more in demand, and also helps create a more useful device for people in these countries. Cell phones have demonstrated to be important communication tools especially for people who are constantly displaced. Computers and phones based on landlines cannot provide the same experience as cell phones since a cell phone is 'attached' to person, while a computer or land line is stuck in a fixed location. Cell phones also act as basic computers that are capable of calculations, timekeeping, and other simple, but useful tasks. In our society, cell phones are one of many means of communication. In developing countries, cell phones are often the only means of mass communication. Cell phones can be used to negotiate long ranged trade, check medical availability, among many other uses. To understand these uses in a context unlike our own provides extremely useful and relevant data for designers. By adding improvements relevant to people in developing countries to cell phones, Nokia is creating a device that adds value to both the company and people in developing countries.
 * In three paragraphs, describe the role of Jan Chipchase in defining the role of cellphones in the developing world for Nokia, and the benefits of analyzing cellphone use and design in different cultures as part of their market expansion.**