Hakkarainen: Learning and Conflicts in Living Lab Collaboration

10.3.2014 14.00-16.00. Louna Hakkarainen. Learning and Conflicts in Living Lab Collaboration

Venue: Aalto Arts, Hämeentie 135, room 6088, Arabia.

Living lab environments are often promoted as a way to engage private companies, citizens, researchers, and public organizations in mutually beneficial learning. Nevertheless, realizing the benefits of this learning may be more challenging than is usually expected. We present insights from an in-depth case study of a four-year living lab collaboration in gerontechnology. The presentation focuses on two specific challenges that can be faced in a living lab project: power issues between the actors and end-user reluctance to participate in the development of new technology. Learning for interaction is needed before effective learning in interaction is possible.

The presentation is based an article by Louna Hakkarainen & Sampsa Hyysalo: How Do We Keep the Living Laboratory Alive? published in the December 2013 issue of Technology Innovation Management Review.

Available here: http://timreview.ca/article/749

Louna Hakkarainen, M.Soc.Sci, is a Doctoral candidate in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture at Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland. She is also finishing her licenciate degree in the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences. Her research focuses on social shaping of technology, living lab development, and facilitation.