Describing Design Problems & Trends

DR. WILL KURLINKUS

Langdon Winner do
Artifacts Have Politics
· Instrumentalism (somnambulism): a technology is a tool.
· Determinism: “some computer enthusiasts believe that the
coming of an information age will inevitably produce a
more democratic, egalitarian society and that it will
achieve this wonderful condition without the least bit of
struggle” (Winner x).
· Social Consructionism (the social determination of
technology): “What matters is not technology, itself, but
the social or economic system in which it is embedded”
(Winner 20-21).
 Chan
Zuckerberg
Initiative
“Faced with any proposal for a new technological system, citizens or their
representatives would examine the social contract implied by building the
system in a particular form” (55).—Langdon Winner
Technology is It affects how we know
epistemic. the world
Are there technological changes
like the mechanization of time
going on right now? What are
they? Shopping? Health? Last time
I taught this class it was these
escooters.
Describe your
problems
and/or trends
 Statement of Need: Show Me The Problem
· The statement of need specifies the conditions you wish to
change. It should quickly summarize the problem, show your
· What is the problem?
familiarity with prior research or work on the problem,
reinforce your credibility for investigating the problem, and · Who does the problem effect?
·
justify why this problem should be investigated.
o Demonstrate a precise understanding of the problem or
Why does the problem matter to
need that you are attempting to solve. Show me this is the granting institution?
actually a problem and why it’s worth solving.
o Has someone else attempted to solve this problem (the · What are the benefits of solving
answer is always yes)? How does your problem differ?
And why does it still need solving? (They Say/I Say)
this problem?
o Clearly convey the focus of your project early in the
narrative (you need to solve something very specific).
o Indicate the relationship of your project to a larger set of
n Statistics
problems or issues and justify your scope. Why has your
particular focus has been chosen?
n Quotes from experts
o Establish the importance and significance of the
problem.
n Personal narratives
o Justify why your problem should be of special interest to
the sponsor.
o Demonstrate that your problem is feasible to solve.
o Make the reviewer want to read further.
n Statement of Need=Argument of
Need
1. What is your unmet need?
2. Concretize: Give
me two striking
examples/stories
illustrating this
problem.
3. What are the causes of this
problem? This is always an ecology.
Map it out. Who are the multiple
players?
 4. What facts,
statistics, quotes, and
stories do you need
to use to prove this
is a problem?
5. Kairos: How can you prove this is
a problem right now? What's the
immediate exigence? Is there
something in the news? Did
something recent happen? Why
now?