in pursuit of the paperless office
Synthesize insights into new products or business development, through human-centered research.
Will Paperless Office be the future?
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Gathered inspiration data and information through human-centered research.
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Transform and summarize the information into structured models that allow for comparison and further interpretation of data.
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By defining insights, identified problem areas that pose challenges to the users. Try reframing insight statements as turning those challenges into opportunities for design.
Role /
Researcher / Designer
Year /
2016
The phrase ‘paperless office’ is traced to Xerox PARC. A paperless office is a work environment in which the use of paper is eliminated or greatly reduced. This is done by converting documents and other papers into digital form. The concept of a paperless office has been around for nearly 40 years; nonetheless, during this period, printing has increased. companies use today 40% more paper, even after having adopted e-mail. Why people still prefer paper in office even computer, tablets and other technology are widely used could replace paper? What is the human need behind? Will Paperless Office be the future?
Overview
Framing Questions
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Why people still prefer paper?
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What is the human need behind?
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Is the future still Paperless?
Research Goal
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Understand the workflow of normal office workers.
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Understanding the motivations of workers why they choose paper, digital files or combination of them.
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Understanding what their work means to them.
Methodology
Observation
Follow an interviewee, while observing and documenting, capture stills from the video which is important, in order to talk more about.
Categorization
Tow circles with central overlap, let participants put options in categories, choose the files they want them to be in digital (put card in blue circle), paper (put card in red circle) or combination of paper and digital (put card in yellow central overlap part), such as data documents, meeting files, presentation file, notes, ideas sketches, Legal Documents…
3 Interviewees
Office workers are who has work experiences, who knows daily work process in office, they could be male or female. Occupations could be diverse (Designer, school teacher, and white-collar)
2 Experts
Designer or Researcher who has knowledge about the market trend designer who designs office facilities
Interviews and Office visiting
Interview Highlight Sample
KJ Method
Look over all notes, videos, photographs, and other documentation of fieldwork, and mark or highlight anything that seems to be important.
Ology Diagrams to Discover Insights
POEMS + A&I Framework
User Experience Journey Map
Answer the ethnographer’s questions
Define areas of research findings such as rituals and deviations
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what does paperless office mean to office workers?
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what are the repeated behaviors? are there any patterns (rituals)? what do the rituals mean in terms of individual and group identity? what are the deviations, and what does it mean to deviate?
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what sense of order is provided for [the participants]?
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what are the roles of participants and nonparticipants?
P.O.I.N.T.S.
Define areas of research findings such as rituals and deviations
problems
needs
system challenges themes
insights opportunities
Method: Pile Sort
Images of office supplies and accessories (calendar, whiteboard, printer, scanner, fax, computer, calculator, notes book, tablet...). Pile 1 the most important supplies they think they need during work; Pile 2 less important supplies they need during work; Pile 3 daily use without special meaning
Narrow down to final 8 promising opportunity
1st Round
80 Ideas
Proposals
Technology research and concept further refinement
#1 Reprinter
Personal recycle machine
Combine printing and recycling in one machine
Technology: Erasable Ink
#2 AR/VR Office System
Unlimited working space
Immersive experience
Easily manipulate information
Technology: AR MR VR
#3 E-note
Easy transfer to digital files
More color choices
Build personal color coding system
Technology: Eink paper
#4 Memory Tree (APP)
Record every branch ideas and mistake regularly Generate a memory tree for further inspiration
Service or software record mistakes