Designing Web Spaces for Social Inclusion Miles Menegon Victoria University Melbourne, Australia

Research Questions: Is it possible to design web spaces that encourage / foster social inclusion? Can we establish a set of design principles for social inclusion on the web?

Research Questions:

Is it possible to design web spaces that encourage / foster social inclusion?

Can we establish a set of design principles for social inclusion on the web?

Social Inclusion: A dynamic, complex system of interrelated social forces Environmental, economic and political factors fall outside of the scope of this project We focus on the development of interpersonal relationships in a hybrid community

The Web Space Browser-based text chat system No plugins required Synchronous and asynchronous communication Member profile pages Lo-fidelity prototype

Browser-based text chat system

No plugins required

Synchronous and asynchronous communication

Member profile pages

Lo-fidelity prototype

The Process 13 participants will use the web space to communicate over a number of months The space will undergo iterative design and functionality changes based on the feedback and usage patterns of participants Design principles may or may not emerge in the process

13 participants will use the web space to communicate over a number of months

The space will undergo iterative design and functionality changes based on the feedback and usage patterns of participants

Design principles may or may not emerge in the process