Ethno-Cognitive Research – Search Engines

We got a really interesting assignment in HCI course (Human Computer Interface).

First Stage – We were asked to choose a search engine which is not that common and then make a small research about how people who never used this engine use it.

We chose delicious for this assignment, despite the fact that it’s not really a search engine, I personally use it as such, and we thought it will be really interesting to see how people will use it.

Delicious is a social bookmarking web service for storing, sharing, and discovering web bookmarks.

Second Stage – The next stage was to write 3 scripts that will be given to 4 users.

1^st script – for a beginner user

2^nd script – for an advanced user

3^rd script – for an unusual use of the search engine (end case)

We are still trying to think of interesting scripts that will help us understand the way people use the search engine and its advantages. We have some good ideas but can really use some help from delicious users.

Third Stage – The next stage will be to give the scripts to the users and ask them to perform them. We will examine the way they are doing it by using Morae – premier software for deeply understanding customer experiences and sharing those insights clearly and powerfully.

So as you can see, we are still at the beginning of the process, but I think we will learn a lot from this assignment about people’s Mental Models, the way each people think, people’s creativity and many more!

If you’re an experienced delicious user, please contact us, we can use your help.

In a more personal level…

Hello!

This blog was actually created as a part of a big assignment in a course called Knowledge Management. The purpose of this assignment is to practice social networks and the use of  it as a tool for knowledge management, distribution and capture.

So far the only social network I was really involved in was Twitter (I love it!) , However  this experience with opening a blog at wordress showed me I have a lot more to learn and experience.

We chose a subject that we’re really passionate about  – web design, We really hope that by doing this assignment we will be able to get more knowledge, skills, and expand our social network around this subject and in general.

So please feel free to join us and help us learn all there is about web design and of course about blogging:)

Yours, Sivan.