Citizens' Advisory Council actively designs the intelligent suggestion system in the Kraft-Copilot project

The project Power Copilot conducted a hands-on workshop with the project's citizens' advisory board on May 22, 2024. The project aims to develop and test an adaptive, gamified learning and networking platform in a participatory manner with young adult carers. Various methods are used to achieve joint knowledge generation and participatory technology development.

During the hands-on workshop, an adaptation of the method techno-mimesis (Dörrenbacher, Löffler, Hassenzahl 2020) was used to develop the platform's intelligent suggestion system in a participatory manner. The performative approach from human computer interaction research, in which designers themselves embody and imitate the technology, was first developed and tested in the context of the development of service robots.

How did the method work?

The Citizens' Advisory Board took on the role of technology and simulated the platform's suggestion system. All representatives of the advisory board developed suggestions for suitable support offers for the individual situation of typical users (personas).

In a subsequent discussion, it was discussed why a particular offer fits a particular situation; which criteria were decisive for the selection and which information about the persona and/or offer was necessary in order to prepare a suitable proposal.

What insights were gained? 

It became apparent that more information about the person being cared for may be necessary in order to be able to make a tailored suggestion. The decisive criteria for selecting offers included the accessibility of the offers and the regionality, but also the duration of the care activity. The findings from this participatory process are incorporated into the conception of the suggestion system.

The workshop shows how the participatory development of the suggestion system strengthens trust in the platform and promotes the acceptance and use of digital health interventions among the target group. Particular attention is paid to the influence of the intelligent system on trust building.

Author: Dr. Sandra Schulz, Cornelia Schade
Project website