Title:
Supporting advice sharing for technical problems in residential settings

dc.contributor.advisor Edwards, W. Keith
dc.contributor.author Poole, Erika Shehan en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMember Abowd, Gregory D.
dc.contributor.committeeMember Grinter, Rebecca
dc.contributor.committeeMember Guzdial, Mark
dc.contributor.committeeMember Twidale, Michael
dc.contributor.committeeMember Zegura, Ellen W.
dc.contributor.department Computing en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2011-03-04T20:05:49Z
dc.date.available 2011-03-04T20:05:49Z
dc.date.issued 2010-08-26 en_US
dc.description.abstract Visions of future computing in residential settings often come with assumptions of seamless, well-functioning, properly configured devices and network connectivity. In the near term, however, processes of setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting are fraught with difficulties; householders regularly report these tasks as confusing, frustrating, and unpleasant. I conducted a series of empirical studies examining both the sources of digital complexity in residential settings well as how people cope with these complexities. Grounded in this fieldwork, I designed a technology probe called Tech Clips. Tech Clips facilitates the sharing of technology-related information by and for people within one's social network. I then conducted a long-term, real-world deployment study in which ten families used the software, while simultaneously completing a series of common computing setup and maintenance tasks. Based on the results of this study, I provide both a rich description of home technology usage and maintenance practices, as well as design implications for software systems that facilitate help-giving between family and friends. The contributions of this research are (1) empirical studies of how lay people understand and cope with vexing technology problems in environments lacking technical experts; (2) the development of a software system to facilitate technical advice sharing; (3) deployment of this system in real-world settings; and (4) recommendations for the design of future tools for facilitating technical help-giving between family and friends. en_US
dc.description.degree Ph.D. en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/1853/37084
dc.publisher Georgia Institute of Technology en_US
dc.subject Computing literacy en_US
dc.subject Articulation work en_US
dc.subject Families en_US
dc.subject Human-computer interaction en_US
dc.subject Home en_US
dc.subject Troubleshooting en_US
dc.subject Social networks en_US
dc.subject.lcsh Microcomputers
dc.title Supporting advice sharing for technical problems in residential settings en_US
dc.type Text
dc.type.genre Dissertation
dspace.entity.type Publication
local.contributor.advisor Edwards, W. Keith
local.contributor.corporatename College of Computing
local.relation.ispartofseries Doctor of Philosophy with a Major in Human-Centered Computing
relation.isAdvisorOfPublication 45c0af6b-7180-4c72-9020-bb7a1aefe18b
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication c8892b3c-8db6-4b7b-a33a-1b67f7db2021
relation.isSeriesOfPublication c9333007-dfa1-4e61-9b38-517b1a4b7c9a
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
poole_erika_s_201012_phd.pdf
Size:
8.79 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description: