Researching Emerging Technologies: Is Your Product a Novelty or Does It Solve a User’s Need?
Session scheduled at 10:30-11:20 in Room 1 (Johnson)
You have a great idea for a product, but you are not sure it is something people will use. Your idea also happens to utilize emerging technology, so users may have a limited mental model, or no mental model for your product. How do you know whether or not you should build it?
In this session you’ll learn how UX research can help you gauge the likelihood of use, and how feedback from users can help you make your product even better. Whether you’ve got an idea, a prototype, or a minimum viable product, this session is for you. Through research tips, as well as industry and Target Corporate research examples, you’ll leave with new tools to help you better understand what your product means to users.
Takeaways: By the end of the session you will know:
- How to pull apart the awe factor of new technology from a user’s true likelihood of adoption and use
- Types of questions to ask to understand how to evolve your product
- Observation versus conversation: when to use which research method
Attendee Skill Level: This session is appropriate for all skill levels, although some familiarity with research is encouraged.
Presented By
Erin Arnesen
Erin Arnesen researches emerging technologies at Target. Before focusing on UX research, she spent time in the advertising industry conducting market research and consulting on digital and brand strategy. She has experience helping companies better understand their users for both global and U.S. based products. In her spare time she enjoys doing cross-fit, attempting Pinterest recipes, and backpacking along the North Shore.