Instrument mediated activity: from subject development to anthropocentric design

The aim of this article is to present the 'instrument-mediated activity' approach, which is part of a 'generative model'. A group of principles liable to contribute to the epistemological unity of generative models is put forward as well as a theoretical framework that conceptual...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inTheoretical issues in ergonomics science Vol. 6; no. 5; pp. 429 - 461
Main Authors Rabardel, P., Beguin, P.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Taylor & Francis Group 01.09.2005
Subjects
Activity theory
Creativity
Design in use
Instrument
Instrumental genesis
Scheme
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ISSN1463-922X
1464-536X
DOI10.1080/14639220500078179

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Summary:The aim of this article is to present the 'instrument-mediated activity' approach, which is part of a 'generative model'. A group of principles liable to contribute to the epistemological unity of generative models is put forward as well as a theoretical framework that conceptualizes what an instrument is for the subject. The article develops the idea that the instrument is a mixed entity born of both the subject and the artifact. The artifact is not an instrument in itself. It is the subject who grants it the status of a means for his/her action. Processes of design in usage by users are defined as 'instrumental geneses'. Finally, the consequences of this model on the organization of design processes are examined, in taking into account instrumental geneses as resources for design.
ISSN:1463-922X
1464-536X
DOI:10.1080/14639220500078179