Dialogue Design-With Mutual Learning as Guiding Principle

The paper describes a large European R&D-project on Multimedia And Network In Co-operative Research And Learning (MANICORAL) from point of view of the participating HCI-researchers. The project developed the methodology of Dialogue Design, drawing on two sources: Participatory Design and Dialogue Research. Action Research is understood as the historical basis for the two strands, , where Participatory Design has focused on research in working life, and Dialogue Research has focused on living conditions. However, Dialogue Design as a methodology differs from the above in a number of aspects In Dialogue Design the carrying principal is mutual learning, focus is on working life of high resource groups, and these users are themselves developing parts of the technologies. The techniques applied and the role of the HCI-researcher as mediator creating fora for dialogues are introduced and reflected upon, and Dialogue Design is discussed within the theoretical concepts of communication and learning.