conduct own research and
come up with your own solution, reflecting the concepts discussed in
class.
1. Digital divide case
Filomena lives in Zillergrund, a rural area in a side valley in Tyrol where she has been born. She
is 62 years old and seldomly leaves the valley. Her life has not been easy. After the death of her
brother, she lives on the little farm alone that she inherited from him. Her life is full of farm
work, she has little time, and opportunity to leave the farm and her cattle that needs care. Her
only daughter moved to Paris for studying history two years ago. Neighborhood-help has been
always great in the area where she lives, but recently more and more people have been moving
from the narrow valley into more urban areas in the Inntal valley. Filomena suffers from gout
and fine motorics can be already difficult for Filomena.
Answer the questions in full sentences:
1. You are an ICT solution designer in the think tank “SilverTyrol”. Select one out of the
following system goals supporting people like Filomena
o ▪ with managing the household
o ▪ with connecting with family members living far away
o ▪ with servicing farming machines and cars
o ▪ with delivering groceries to farmers markets in the city
Envision an ICT solution supporting your system goal. Which functions,
characteristics and system traits does your envisioned solution have? (min. 300
words)
2. In which ways does your solution help to reduce the digital divide? (min. 250 words)
2. Our minds can be hijacked
Read the Guardian article ‘Our minds can be hijacked’: the tech insiders who fear a smartphone
dystopia in the October 5th, 2017 issue.
The article can be accessed online here:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/05/smartphone-addiction-silicon-valleydystopia
Answer the following questions in full sentences:
1. Which potentially addictive user interface design patterns are described in the article?
List them and explain how they work and why they could be potentially addictive. (min.
400 words).
2. Which technologies may contribute to people suffering from “continuous partial
attention”? (min. 300 words).
