HP Labs India

Contextual Invention ‘03 Creative Approaches to Innovation in Emerging Markets

International Conference Hosted and Sponsored by HP Labs India
Royal Orchid Park Plaza Hotel, Bangalore
Nov 6, 2003

Conference Chairs
Dr. Girish Prabhu, HP Labs, India
Dr. David Frohlich, HP Labs, Bristol

HP Labs India hosted a one-day maiden international conference in Bangalore on Contextual Invention on November 6th 2003. The need for strong ICT adoption in emerging markets is tremendous – to empower these segments, create a balance in society, fuel socio-economic growth, as well as to demonstrate long term business benefits to ICT businesses. HP Labs India has been set up to generate innovations targeted at the world's emerging economies by understanding relevant social, cultural, economic and technological drivers. HP as a leading player in the ICT business aims to bring together best practices, ideas, innovations and experiences from organizations that have focused on ICT initiatives for largely excluded segments. To promote multi-disciplinary research approach to innovate for emerging markets, HP labs India hosted and sponsored this event.

Contextual Invention is an extension of contextual design, which seeks to define new product requirements from an understanding of the social and cultural contexts of use. In this extension, ethnographic research is used as the driver for related activities in market and business research, design envisionment and technological invention. Such extensions are required to develop design ethnographies into innovative new business proposals. This conference was being conducted for the first time and brought cultural, design and technology experts from around the world to discuss how they apply multi-disciplinary research in developing new ICT-based (information and communication technology) business opportunities. This inaugural meeting focused on development and innovation for the emerging markets.

150 people from academia, research organizations, NGOs, government and industry who are interested in promoting ICT-based opportunities through any combination of the following activities a) Ethnographic studies of user and cultural needs, b) Design of new products and services, c) Market and business research, and d) Invention of new technology infrastructure and solutions, attended this conference.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. D. B. Inamdar, Honourable Minister for Information Technology, Bio Technology and Tourism for the state of Karnatak. After welcome by the conference chairs, Girish Prabhu and David Frohlich, Kris Halvorsen, Center Director for SSRC, HP Labs delivered the opening remarks, followed by an address by the Minister on the importance of such conference to overall ICT based development in India. The keynote speaker for the event was by Prof Irene McAra-McWilliam, from Royal College of Arts, London, for whom interaction design, systems design and cultural research are central concerns. With 20 years experience in the domain of research and business, Irene McAra-McWilliam is a pioneer in the field of interaction design. Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam’s presentation looked at the evolution of the computer, from the early days when it was a tool used exclusively by experts, to the situation of today where computers have moved into many of the appliances and tools that we use in our homes and at work. Professor McAra-McWilliam proposed that a cultural approach, together with business, design and technology research can provide exciting scenarios for the future, where countries such as India can develop technologies and products for their local situation based on their own values, preferences and practices, and where the lessons we learn in India can enrich our cultural practices in the West.

The keynote address was followed by three very stimulating sessions on: a) Methods for Innovation, chaired by Irene McAra-McWilliams, b) ICT implementations chaired by Warren Greving and c) Design Innovation, chaired by Huw Robson. The papers are available as conference proceedings and can be obtained through HP Labs India. The conference ended with a tie-up by Irena and call-for action from Gita Gopal, Associate Director, HP labs India.

You can view some of the pictures taken at the conference here….