Making way

Reading
Principles in practice, ethnography, Hammersley and Atkinson
This is a great outline for ethnography discussing fieldwork, ethics, case studies. If you are looking at observations and you need some good solid references then this is a great place to start. There are many reoccurring themes but they discuss quite allot through examples of projects or findings which is a good way of writing as it always supports what your opinion.
Community Technology, Karl Hess
Originally written in the 70's, it has very interesting views on how things can be shaped pre-internet. there are some great thoughts on what a community is, how it is shaped and has a good view on technology, that you need to community for it to work efficiently. This is true as you usually build off others, worth a read.
Really nice project from Interaction Research Studio Goldsmiths, Legible Landscapes
Rapid ethnography: time deepening strategies for HCI field research
a good series of thoughts on how to structure what you are looking at, how you are reviewing but more importantly how to refine in the first please, by that I mean how to centralise what you are looking at. This does not give you the broadest picture but if you are trying to be more focused then it is a good thing to look at.

Risk to researchers in qualitative research on sensitive topics: Issues and strategies
looking at where researchers should and should not be and how this is structured. This is an extreme example where researchers are looking at undercover crime etc but it does make you think about the issues at hand.
Going back and giving back: The ethics of staying in the field
looking at the idea of going native in research, then also when the ties need to be cut. thinking about what and how the participants are included in the research after the research.
Investigating information systems with ethnographic research
a good simple guide to ethnography terms.
Between stranger and friend: Some consequences of “long term” fieldwork in schools
a good look at how the relationships change over time, who becomes the researcher, how do you remain impartial as a researcher? how do you develop what is happening and control what is going on so that you do not become so 'native' that you cannot be a researcher.
What's wrong with ethnography?: Methodological explorations
a good look at process, understanding the situations where ethnography does not work, its failures and how to avoid them.. a good read


Doing
We have been running some design workshops for artefact cafe, they are starting to look at interesting themes within open design that I look forward to sharing in publication. We will be at Made in Brunel if you want to come along and take part in some design workshops.

I have been going through the results of the exhibition at future everything, there were some great things to come out of it, insights thoughts and developments. It was really great to meet with independent researchers this week and discuss what is happening, directions, the concept of gifting ie what people want for doing something and the directions that I have taken. They did not want to be mentioned, they know who they are and I thank them for their time.

I have been involved in queen inspection, this is something that takes place during the summer months. I have also been on swarm patrol where we get a call to different locations to collect swarms. The pictures bellow are analysing how and what the plan is.

Inspecting a home made hive, I am not quite at this... going native stage yet.

I have been working on the second probe tool, that will highlight more specific directions, I have always learnt that probes need to be open to interpretation. If nothing of interest comes out of them then you have either been asking the wrong questions, not thought about how people will interpret... or they simply do not have time.

Talking
Good chat with the Honey Club in kings cross, they are interesting as a social innovation.