Design Thinking

Summary

A algorithm-heavy tool like OpenReblock is heavily dependent on computing and digital displays, but the practitioners of this solution also recognize that this medium is often foreign to its beneficiaries. Furthermore the practitioners of this solution are of vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds than the beneficiaries. When originally observing how OpenReblock translated into real world applications, a very strong emphasis was placed on human-centric design. One example of this was when implementers resisted the urge to stay in the digital realm and instead approached the topic of reblocking with cardboard cutouts on a physical map. The key here is to allow the tool to do its job while simultaneously not disrupting the way of life for the people it's trying to help.