Because of the encouraging results in my OECD-funded research, I want to promote research and innovation on User-Centred Design in agricultural engineering. I attended the AgEng 2012 Conference in Valencia where I gave a presentation on ‘The potential of User-Centered Design (UCD) to make radical agricultural innovations’. The full paper and presentation (attached) concluded:
‘In the future, research and development should be more directed towards the acceptability of new technologies, including usability and ease of use. Innovation in the applications of UCD is needed. Education topics are found in UCD methods and practices for designers. Eventually, the users should be activated to demand better products.’
Hannu Haapala
Agrinnotech - Speeding up innovation 