I think therefore I am, in usability circles I do therefore I am, in ethnographics where I am, with who, with what, what I have done become what I do. A long description to get across the difference between the often quick and dirty techniques employed in usability and the in depth and useful aspects of ethnographics.
Ethnography is about trying to understand behavior and culture by observing or talking to people, while they’re doing whatever it is they do. It means entering their world for a couple of hours, a couple of days or even a few weeks.
We get up close to our research participants and access a depth and intimacy of experience that could not be considered in any other way.
We watch their world unfold in front of them, see what influences them and how they are changed by daily experiences. We watch, listen, and learn all in the context of where the activity is: in their home, at their work, at school or college, wherever they go.
Ethnographics is an interpretation of ethnography which was created by Karl Smith as a digital enactment method to scope and determine group behaviors for interaction design and user experience research.
This Note has been added at the request of Paradigm Interactions Limited where Karl Smith is currently the Director of Digital and their Principal Digital Architect. Karl Smith continues to create new research methods and processes for the clients of Paradigm Interactions Limited.
While AIU continues to practice ethnographic's it is under an agreement with Karl Smith to do so.
