A lesson for leading with the user
The basis of our thinking around the importance of user-centred design is to lead with the user. This certainly isn’t the only approach to innovation, but it could reduce the risks of market failures like the Ifbot with Japanese elderly, where it turns out that robots turn off senior citizens.
“Most (elderly) people are not interested in robots. They see robots as overly-complicated and unpractical. They want to be able to get around their house, take a bath, get to the toilet and that’s about it,” said Ruth Campbell, a geriatric social worker at the University of Tokyo.
