Pottering

This paper examines a ubiquitous yet overlooked aspect of home-life, pottering, and gives shape to the practice and demonstrates how such an investigation has broad implications for HCI and designing for the home.

Abstract

In this paper we examine a ubiquitous yet overlooked aspect of home-life, pottering. The Oxford English Dictionary defines pottering as "To occupy oneself in an ineffectual or trifling way; to work or act in a feeble or desultory manner; to trifle, to dabble." It is thus a term used to describe a variety of activities but none in particular. Below, we give shape to the practice of pottering and in doing so aim to demonstrate how such an investigation has broad implications for HCI and designing for the home. We also report on our experiences of using design sketching as an analytical resource.