Researching user interpretation beyond designer intentions

System evaluation in user-centered design commonly confronts the users' interpretations with the designers' intentions. In most research, the authoritative designer view remains the touchstone against which all user interpretation is evaluated. However, the proliferation of technology use in daily life puts this view under increasing pressure. As technology is more often being used beyond the workplace, more diverse target user groups and contexts of use make interaction broader and more personal. Acknowledging this increased variation in user interpretation, we are developing an evaluation method to identify and analyze variation and shifts in end user interpretation, helping designers to balance and support different meanings, instead of imposing only one authoritative interpretation.status: publishe