ABSTRACT
The central argument in this book is that usable and useful technology, particularly health technology, results from a markedly long interchange between suppliers, users, regulators, and various intermediary actors. In the previous chapter, we focused on the gradual construction of usages, usability, and utility of the Vivago-Wristcare technology by its adopter organizations. In Chapter 5, we examined how its developers handled some of the user requests in the frenzy of design interaction. We will now expand the analytical time frame to draw out connections between these two loci and foci of shaping the technology and give a more encompassing portrait of the six years (1998-2003) after the market launch of Vivago-Wristcare. The particular focus is on interactions and learning between the producer company, Vivago Ltd., and elderly-care organizations, since these had a signifi cant impact on the ongoing development, usages, and “diffusion” of this technology.
