Abstract:

In this paper, we describe our newly developed research method for exploring the behavior, values and needs of people in the virtual environment. We discuss our research methodology while presenting the results of a research project investigating user-generated content and online behavior. For our case study, we engaged Indian and U.S American participants online for one week, using Web 2.0 technologies to reflect the full facets of interactivity and creativity in Philips Design methods of people research. This research reaffirms our faith in conducting studies contextual to the research topic, if at all we have to genuinely understand people's behavior, values and needs. And in our case, this meant investigating people online, from their virtual homes.