This paper introduces “The Structured Scenario-based Design Method”, a design approach where a vision is proposed from an HCD (Human-Centered Design) perspective for use with ubiquitous computing. This method utilizes structured scenarios that are created in order to appropriately incorporate users' intrinsic needs and values into systems/products specifications at an early stage of designing. This paper discusses the method, articulating characteristics, a design process and a few case examples using a tool developed for this particular method.

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In this paper, authors focused on the use of the cell phone by senior people living in the urban area and the rural area in Japan. The result of the questionnaire research showed that there are differences in the use of the cell phone and other communication media between two areas. These differences are related to the difference in the life pattern and the environmental factors in both areas.

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This paper proposes a scenario generation system for new services. We developed XB-method, a scenario generation system, in order to inspire the affecting experience, and that have been difficult through the conventional process in the current product planning. XB-method is a method which enables us to generate the new scenario with multiplying the database of keywords statistically-extracted from experiences by images of commodities or services in order to inspire the new product and services with the affecting experience effectively with users' perspectives.

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Administrative bodies including government and local governments in Japan seek for building citizen-centric policies and plans, in regards with efficient allocation of various resources as well as for accountability to the citizens. Large scale surveys to achieve evidence of users' satisfaction and research symposium organized entitles “For human-oriented system design” are the examples for their intentions. But the accumulation of experience and human resources in Human-centered design (HCD) approaches does not seem to be fully utilized. In this study, examples of administrative planning processes in Japan such as e-government, road administration of government, ITS projects (intelligent transportation system) are first reviewed to reveal the needs for HCD. Then the contribution of HCD approaches to these examples is discussed focusing on enabling citizen-centric policies and plans. The necessity and possibility of broadening conventional HCD activities to these fields is further discussed.

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Touchscreen devices have become ubiquitous in our daily lives and are offering flexible input and output operations for users. Typical operation methods for touchscreen devices include use of stylus and finger. Touchscreen user may select stylus or finger depending on user's situation and preference. In this study, we propose a dynamic assignment method of symbols to keys for soft keyboard on touchscreen device. This method provides flexible adjustment to both of stylus operation and the finger operation.

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