A master thesis from Aalborg University
Human Interaction with the Forgotten Sump Pump: A case study of homeowners' value perception in flood-prone areas
[Human Interaction with the Forgotten Sump Pump]
Author(s)
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2022
Submitted on
2022-06-01
Pages
64 pages
Abstract
The objective of this thesis and this report is to elucidate homeowners' challenges regarding flooding of houses in flood-prone areas in Denmark and bring forward ideas for technological solutions to address the challenges. Through an ethnographic study, I investigate, what is at stake for the individual and society. I unfold homeowners' values in this specific context through a Value Sensitive Design approach and identify desirable future solutions to accommodate homeowners' concerns, increase their ability to protect their own houses and reach a composed psychological state of mind. The idea for a software solution regarding homeowners' sump pumps was discussed amongst interviewees and with specifically selected values in mind, I investigate why homeowners prefer some solutions as opposed to others. I collaborated with a pump manufacturer on this project, and I have investigated how Value Sensitive Design can have a positive effect on their business opportunities by validating homeowners' desire for a solution that includes a subscription model for service and maintenance of the sump pump. Through this validation, the study has contributed to the further expansion of the idea in the company. I argue that using a techno-anthropological angle enhances the creativity amongst technical developers, due to in-depth insights concerning homeowners' values and their reasons for emphasising some values over others, combined with the diversity these insights brought into the discussions in the collaborative project group.
Documents
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