Virtual Assistance in Any Context

Several domain-specific assistants in the form of chatbots have conquered many commercial and private areas. However, there is still a limited level of systematic knowledge of the distinctive characteristics of design elements for chatbots to facilitate development, adoption, implementation, and further research. To close this gap, the paper outlines a taxonomy of design elements for chatbots with 17 dimensions organized into the perspectives intelligence, interaction and context. The conceptually grounded design elements of the taxonomy are used to analyze 103 chatbots from 23 different application domains. Through a clustering-based approach, five chatbot archetypes that currently exist for domain-specific chatbots are identified. The developed taxonomy provides a structure to differentiate and categorize domain-specific chatbots according to archetypal qualities that guide practitioners when taking design decisions. Moreover, the taxonomy serves academics as a foundation for conducting further research on chatbot design while integrating scientific and practical knowledge.

Do It Fluid

This chapter draws on practical experience in designing, delivering, operating, and innovating conversational services. The article summarises the current context for these distinctively new kinds of services and provides an overview of the relevant technologies and common platforms used in commercial service production. The chapter explores the broader commercial context for smart voice-oriented services and provides an applied framework to aid service innovation. The two concluding parts move into service production, outline a grounded design approach (FLOW) for maximising service flow, and discuss future research directions, specifically how design anthropology can help in radical service innovation.

Grounded Design and GIScience - A framework for informing the design of geographical information systems and spatial data infrastructures

Geographical Information Science (GIScience), also Geographical Information Science and Systems, is a multi-faceted research discipline and comprises a wide variety of topics. Investigation into data management and interoperability of geographical data and environmental data sets for scientific analysis, visualisation and modelling is an important driver of the Information Science aspect of GIScience, that underpins comprehensive Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) research and development. In this article we present the 'Grounded Design' method, a fusion of Design Science Research (DSR) and Grounded Theory (GT), and how they can act as guiding principles to link GIScience, Computer Science and Earth Sciences into a converging GI systems development framework. We explain how this bottom-up research framework can yield holistic and integrated perspectives when designing GIS and SDI systems and software. This would allow GIScience academics, GIS and SDI practitioners alike to reliably draw from interdisciplinary knowledge to consistently design and innovate GI systems.

Grounded Design and GIScience - A framework for informing the design of geographical information systems and spatial data infrastructures

Geographical Information Science (GIScience), also Geographical Information Science and Systems, is a multi-faceted research discipline and comprises a wide variety of topics. Investigation into data management and interoperability of geographical data and environmental data sets for scientific analysis, visualisation and modelling is an important driver of the Information Science aspect of GIScience, that underpins comprehensive Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) research and development. In this article we present the 'Grounded Design' method, a fusion of Design Science Research (DSR) and Grounded Theory (GT), and how they can act as guiding principles to link GIScience, Computer Science and Earth Sciences into a converging GI systems development framework. We explain how this bottom-up research framework can yield holistic and integrated perspectives when designing GIS and SDI systems and software. This would allow GIScience academics, GIS and SDI practitioners alike to reliably draw from interdisciplinary knowledge to consistently design and innovate GI systems.

Development of ultraviolet bactericidal recirculator for air purification of livestock buildings

Purpose. Improving the efficiency of the air purification process through the use of the created design and determining the rational parameters of the luminescent ultraviolet bactericidal air recirculator for livestock buildings. Methods. Methods of analysis, mathematical modeling and engineering methods for calculating irradiation installations are used. Results. The methods of application of ultraviolet bactericidal (UVB) plants for purification and disinfection of the air environment in agricultural premises are analyzed. Impact mechanism established of UVB radiation and ozone for pathogenic microflora and harmful impurities in the air of livestock premises is substantiated. The grounded design, the method of engineering calculation and the technical parameters of the UVB air recirculator are determined. Experimental samples of UVB recirculators of air in livestock buildings were made and the results of their production tests are presented. Conclusions. UVB recycle converter with application of luminescent UVB lamps with installed capacity = 180 W and air capacity = 1800 m3/h provides bactericidal efficiency = 75%, and with = 1000 m3/h – bactericidal efficiency = 90%. Keywords: recirculator, ultraviolet, bactericidal, ozone, air purification, disinfection, microclimate of livestock buildings.

Grounded Design

This chapter presents grounded design as a suggestion for a praxeological turn in the field of computing. It argues that, given the high societal relevance of computing to all aspects of life, the academic field of (applied) computer science needs to develop its epistemological paradigm and research methods accordingly. Computer science arguably needs to define itself as a sociotechnical discipline that contributes to the solution of social problems in context. The grounded-design position is that a design-oriented discipline of practice-based computing is needed, one where methods and techniques can deal with the context specificity of local knowledge and appropriation of information and communications technology more seriously. This chapter presents an approach that outlines such practice-based computing by building on situated design knowledge and dealing with the interplay of the social and the technical.

Toward Transferability in Grounded Design

Grounded design is a particular design-research approach applied in case studies. The approach aims to investigate social practices with the purpose of identifying and unveiling problematic aspects of that practice. In research contexts, design case studies are conducted by applying established research methods such as ethnographic field studies, participatory design, and action research. As a research approach, grounded design claims to contribute to scientific knowledge by creating a collection of documented cases that is accessible for a further comprehensive and overarching analysis. This chapter provides an example of such a study through a comparison of two design case studies in the field of civil security research, in the context of firefighting: the Landmarke project and the Koordinator project. In addition, this chapter addresses the transferability of design case studies.