We are not alone

Like us, many of scholars have used the platform of academic studies to help themselves and other populations to improve their connection to their families. The intention is well understood. Family is one of the most important aspects in our lives (much research on that as well) and here is the chance and a great potential to work on that aspect.

The Casablanca project conducted in 2001 in MIT was the first of many studies use home HCI to find alternative means of communications to improve family lives.

We read this research feeling we are not alone. They created prototypes examined them and refined them much like we do.

The amount of research in this field is quite staggering.

But there is something funny about the research. Looking at 4 studies conducted between 2001-2008

Casablanca: Designing Social Communication Devices for the Home (2001),

Technology Probes: Inspiring Design for and with Families (2003), Connecting the family with awareness systems (2004), Exploring communication and sharing between extended families (2008)

They are slowly making their way to designing a WhatsApp family group. Apparently it is an amazing tool for maintaining digital family life, but we are dealing with its aftermath.

So still much more areas to explore