Value Sensitive Design

CH R I S TINA MA GNI F ICO

Value Sensitive Design is

an interactional theory developed by Batya Friedman and Peter Kahn at the University of Washington in the 1990s
a methodology that explicitly considers the values of users and other stakeholders in the design process (Friedman, B., Kahn, P., & Borning, A., n.d.)

a theory that wants you to ask questions

used to map the benefits and harms to values

Value Sensitive Design Process

What is the product? What is its purpose?

Direct or Indirect

How will this affect/align with the values of stakeholders?

Have all values been evaluated and incorporated?

Source: University of Washington, 2013

What are the values in Value Sensitive Design?

What is a value? A value refers to what a person or group of people consider important in life (Lecture #6, 2009) or a moral import.
Values of Moral Import Privacy Trust

Human dignity Intellectual property Psychological well-being

Access Freedom from bias Calmness

Respect for person Physical well-being Informed consent

Universal usability Moral responsibility Moral accountability
Sources: Fisher; "Theories of Information Behavior

Using Value Sensitive Design, you can easily see the connectivity between values of moral import. This allows direct stakeholders to better understand the needs of indirect stakeholders and thus provide better experiences overall.

Source: Burmeister, O., 2003

Value Sensitive Design

Adheres to a tripartite methodology which is one of the key features of VSDs interactional perspective
A tripartite methodology is split into three separate processes
That include: Conceptual investigations- philosophically informed analyses of the central constructs and issues under investigation (Friedman, B., Kahn, P., & Borning, A., 1997) Empirical investigations- allow for further investigation of the information system design Technical investigations- focus on how existing technological properties and underlying mechanisms support or hinder human values (Friedman, B., Kahn, P., & Borning, A., 1997)

Tripartite Methodology

Source: University of Washington, 2013

So what is VSD used for?

Designing usability (ease of use)
Library science application: Organizing reference collections or database collections based on the values of a libraries community

Designating conventions (standardization of technical protocols)

Library science application: Creating a library website that utilizes resources in a way that creates trust in the information among patrons

Accounting for personal predilections (color preferences within a graphical interface)

Library science application: Designing eye-catching displays within a library in order to promote materials

Value Sensitive Design Moving Forward

As the need for more organized information systems grows, the interest in Value Sensitive Design will increase. An ACM Digital Library study over ten years, showed that there was a consistent increase in the interest in human values as they pertain to the design of information systems.

Whats with all these terms?!

Interactional theory- A theory derived from social processes pulled from human interactions
Direct stakeholders- Directly affected by technology and/or information (ex: Librarians and information professionals who have direct access to information resources) Indirect stakeholders- Indirectly affected by technology and/or information (ex: Library patrons and researchers) Tripartite methodology- a methodology consisting of three parts

QUESTIONS?

References
Borning, A. and Muller, M., (n.d.). Next steps for value sensitive design. Retrieved from http://dub.washington.edu/djangosite/media/papers/borning-muller-chi2012.pdf Fisher, K., (2005). Value Sensitive Design. Theories of information behavior. Edited by Fisher, K., Erdelez, S., & McKechnie, L. (pp. 368-372). New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. Friedman, B., Khan, P.H., & Borning, A . (n.d.). Value sensitive design and information systems. Retrieved from http://cseweb.ucsd.edu/~goguen/courses/271/friedman04.pdf Friedman, B., Kahn, P.H., & Borning, A. (n.d.). Value sensitive design : Theory and methods. Retrieved from http://www.urbansim.org/pub/Research/ResearchPapers/vsd-theory-methods-tr.pdf Nathan, L.P., Friedman, B., Klasnja, P., Kane, S.k., & Miller, J.K. (n.d.). Envisioning systemic effects on persons and society throughout interactive system design. Retrieved from http://user[ages.umbc.edu/~skane/pubs/dis08.pdf Lecture # 6. (2009). Participatory and value-sensitive design [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from User Interface and Design and Development http://www.docstoc.com/docs/46797350/Participatory-and-Value-Sensitive-Design Value Sensitive Design. (2013). Research Lab. Retrieved from http://www.vsdesign.org/index.shtml

Images
Group 6. (2013, February 1). University of Washington [Video files]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/Jqqj6ZF21hk Oliver K. Burmeister, John Weckert, Kirsty Williamson, (2011) "Seniors extend understanding of what constitutes universal values", Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, Vol. 9 Iss: 4, (pp.238 252). Retrieved from
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=17003905&show=html

Everybody

thinks that when new technologies come along that theyre transparent and you can just do your job well on it. But technologies always import a whole new set of values with them. - Brian Eno