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Access to knowledge, information, and technology is a key element for the development of individuals and society as a whole. While computing systems play a fundamental role in this process, efforts aimed at diminishing the worldwide digital divide are still scarce. In this study, we propose a tailoring-based approach for personal systems design as a way to promote digital and social inclusion in contexts of highly unbalanced access to computing technology. Our approach uses theories and methods of participatory design and semiotics to tailor user interfaces according to principles of universal access. We propose the integration of the PLuRaL framework for the system conception and design with the FAN (flexibility through AJAX and norms) framework for implementation and deployment of tailorable user interfaces, reaching a complete approach for the creation of systems. The approach, frameworks, and methods were effectively analyzed during the design of an inclusive social network system in Brazil. In addition, we present an evaluation of the developed system and discuss possible impacts on digital inclusion.

Social network services (SNSs) have brought new possibilities and challenges to the design of software environments that respect people’s cultural differences. These systems may represent an opportunity for social and digital inclusion. However, search mechanisms in these systems impose serious barriers for people in the process of acquiring digital literacy. One of the barriers is the difficulty of using the adequate terms/keywords to perform content searches. This paper presents an approach to allow ordinary, non-technology proficient people to access the content of a network through the use of search parameters that make sense to them. The proposal is grounded on Semantic Web technologies (Web ontology) combined with Organizational Semiotics concepts and methods to identify the users’ profile and language. A case study was conducted with the search mechanism integrated into a SNS, and a preliminary evaluation reveals the advantages and drawbacks of the approach.

The multidisciplinary nature of e-government demands a research agenda that includes issues related to social inclusion, universal accessibility, interoperability, privacy, security, and citizen participation, to name a few. Understanding the underlying cultural context, the involvement of citizens in the proposal and evaluation of services, and the promotion of quality in use are aspects that need special consideration in the development of systems to support government. This paper provides an outline for a process model for promoting the identification and specification of accessible e-government services with the participation of the interested parties. A socially shared perspective is adopted toward the comprehension of the involved problems and the elaboration of potential solutions. The proposed model is a result of practice in the domain, using organizational semiotics artifacts to stimulate participation and discussion.

Literature in the field of human–computer interaction (HCI) has shown a long tradition of evaluation methods for and along with interactive systems design. We have experienced in the last years an impressive development in ubiquitous and pervasive systems, motivated by technological development, low cost of sensors and actuators, and a rise in the maker culture for the construction of computational systems. While such systems naturally inherit methods for evaluating the user interaction from previous interaction paradigms, it is not clear whether they reach specificities of the interaction of people within ubiquitous and pervasive systems scenarios. This work aimed at shedding light on this subject by conducting a systematic literature review on ubiquitous and pervasive technology scenarios of interactive installations. Results have shown that most of the selected contributions use classical methods of data collection and analysis, and combinations of these methods. Analysis of results also points out some new aspects to be considered in evaluation methods, regarding the human (social) actions promoted or afforded by ubiquitous and pervasive systems.

Social software is a growing reality worldwide and several authors are discussing its use to promote social interaction in learning contexts. Although problems regarding privacy, reputation, and identity are commonly reported in social software, an explicit concern regarding peoples' values is not a common practice in its design and adoption, in part, due to the lack of research in this subject. The issue of values becomes even more critical as social software crosses the boundaries of people's cultures to pervade every aspect of their lives, from personal relationships to work, from play to education. In this paper we shed light on this scenario by presenting an informed discussion about values in the context of social software, as it may bridge the gap between informal and formal learning. An organization of 28 suggested values is presented in the Value Pie, as a way of informing the design of social software. Our discussion is grounded on Organizational Semiotics and the Building Blocks of Culture.

The fast evolution of technology has led to a growing demand for video data, increasing the amount of research into efficient systems to manage those materials. Making efficient use of video information requires that data be accessed in a user-friendly way. Ideally, one would like to perform video search using an intuitive tool. Most of existing browsers for the interactive search of video sequences, however, have employed a too rigid layout to arrange the results, restricting users to explore the results using list- or grid-based layouts. This paper presents a novel approach for the interactive search that displays the result set in a flexible manner. The proposed method is based on a simple and fast algorithm to build video stories and on an effective visual structure to arrange the storyboards, called Clustering Set. It is able to group together videos with similar content and to organize the result set in a well-defined tree. Results from a rigorous empirical comparison with a subjective evaluation show that such a strategy makes the navigation more coherent and engaging to users.

The tendency of computer use spreading out into more and more areas of life has the potential to bring benefits to people s' lives. Examples are electronic government services in areas such as public health or social assistance. The same phenomenon, however could leave behind people who face different barriers regarding the access to those services, for example people with disabilities, low literacy or low computer skills. This work sheds light on the question of how to facilitate the interaction with those services considering people with diverse physical and intellectual conditions. This study analyzes design ideas utilized in four prototypes of a registration service and explored by user representatives. The results of this analysis inform a design rationale in order to support designers in making design decisions tailored to the respective application and social usage context. Adapted from the source document.

Information and Communication Technology has the potential of benefiting citizens, allowing access to knowledge, communication and collaboration, and thus promoting the process of constitution of a fairer society. The design of systems that make sense to the users’ community and that respect their diversity demands socio-technical views and an in-depth analysis of the involved parties. The authors have adopted Organizational Semiotics and Participatory Design as theoretical and methodological frames of reference to face this challenge in the design of an Inclusive Social Network System for the Brazilian context. This paper presents the use of some artifacts adapted from Problem Articulation Method to clarify concepts and prospect solutions. Results of this clarification fed the Semantic Analysis Method from which this paper presents and discusses an Ontology Chart for the domain and the first signs of the inclusive social network system.

The tendency of computer use spreading out into more and more areas of life has the potential to bring benefits to people’s lives. Examples are electronic government services in areas such as public health or social assistance. The same phenomenon, however, could leave behind people who face different barriers regarding the access to those services, for example people with disabilities, low literacy or low computer skills. This work sheds light on the question of how to facilitate the interaction with those services considering people with diverse physical and intellectual conditions. This study analyzes design ideas utilized in four prototypes of a registration service and explored by user representatives. The results of this analysis inform a design rationale in order to support designers in making design decisions tailored to the respective application and social usage context.

The authors discuss the shift from a rationalistic perspective on the design of interactive systems to the inclusion of social and communicative aspects, drawing on concepts from Organizational Semiotics (OS). They take semiotics beyond studying the use of signs in communication to include the shared knowledge arising from communicating in designing. They present a short case study of 'Pokayoke', a computational system designed to support decision making in the context of a manufacturer working towards lean production, analysing the use of ontology charts combined with prototyping during the design process. The ontology chart allows the design team, which is defined to include designers, users, and stakeholders, to visualise their assumptions and design concepts.