U s e r C e n t r e d P a s s i v e B u i l d i n g D e s i g n
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main categories [ i.e., Micro–Meso and Macro] based on the creteria of knwoedge,
experince and proximity to product development and usage, as shown in
Fig 3. The last
type macro user experince is similar with the super user concept suggested by Morch
and Mehandjiev (2000,p.76)
.
They defined
super user as cited on Dorner (2010, p.12)
"advance end users who have accumulated considerable expertise in local (in house)
development and
tailoring
. They provide help and guidance to other users and they train
these users to participate in end-user development activities".
In this quotation seniority
in knowledge about the product plays a pivotal role in classifying end-users
.
Huang et al
(2003) defined user as that
“user (symbol as user) is the role which uses the grid
system”
.
The Grid system is defined as a set contents that assemble in groups and each
ontent called node (Huang et al,2003). User is managed only by its owned node, not by
the entire Grid.
And it may be the same user which belongs to owned node before the
owned node joins the Grid system”
.
This definition explains the relationship between the
user and the grid of software
.
The idea here is that the user task can be considered
based on some attribute not all design attributes.
Business dictionary (N/A) defined user
as
“Entity that has
to use an application,
or
or one who consumes or employs a good or
t
a
or to
solve
and who may or may not be the actua
of the item”
.
In this
definition the user can be direct or indirect. The user could be the one who buys,
consumes or employ a product. Another definition for the end user by Whats-Come
(2008)
“In information technology, the term end user is used to distinguish the person for
whom a hardware or software product is designed from the developers, installers, and
servicers of the product. The "end" part of the term probably derives from the fact that
most information technologies involve a chain of interconnected product components at
the end of which is the "user." Frequently, complex products require the involvement of
other-than-end users such as installers, administrators, and system operators. The
term end user thus distinguishes the user for which the product is designed from other
users who are making the product possible for the end user. Often, the term user would
suffice”
.
It is very clear from this extract that there is a distinctive difference between
user and end-user terms
.
The distinction is based on the proximity and type of
involvement of the users might have in the development and uasge o the product. The
difference also draws on experience and knowledge criteria stated in the previous
definitions. Probably the criteria of end-user and user contained the this extract are very
relevant to the theory of user-centred design in construction industry.
Webopedia (2012) defined end-user
as
"an individual who uses a
This
includes expert
as well as novices. An
is any individual
who
a
. This definition shown the end user who is the every
one could interact with using programme. End-user terminologies in software
engineering are explained by Ko et al (2008) and cited by (Burnett, 2009) as
“end-user
programming involving systematic and disciplined activities that address software quality
issues (such as reliability, efficiency, usability, etc.). In essence, end-user programming
focuses mainly on how to allow end users to create their own programs, and end-user
software engineering considers how to support the entire software lifecycle and its
attendant issues”
.
The trust behind the content of the definition is the linkage between
the end-user experiences and the quality of the designed product. The author here
relates the endeavour of the designers to how they respond to end-user needs in terms
of usability, reliability and efficiently. The statement also advances the importance the
product life cycle issues and how they end-user should be able to design their own
products to reflect their unique needs. These issues are also pointed by Wikipedia as
cited on (Burnett, 2009) when he referred to end use development as
“end-user
development (EUD) is a research topic within the field of computer science, describing
activities or techniques that allow people who are not professional developers to create
or modify a software artefact. A typical example of EUD is programming to extend and
