NETWORKED
KNOWLEDGE.
CULTURAL SHARING AMONGST
DISPERSED IMMIGRANTS

2017/2019

BY
PRAKRITI MUKHOPADHYAY
SUPERVISOR: DR. MARIA LANTIN

NETWORKED KNOWLEDGE:Cultural sharing
amongst dispersed immigrants.
By
Prakriti Mukhopadhyay
BDesign,NIFT, New Delhi,2013

2019

Prakriti Mukhopadhyay,2019

01
02
03
04
05
06

Abstract……………………………………………………………….8

Keywords………………………………………………………….10

Glossary of terms………………………………………….12

List of Figures…………………………………………..………14

Introduction………………………………………………….…….16

Literature Review…………………………………..…………….17-22
>Existence in Cyberspace…………...............…………………………………………….17
>Virtual Community building, how ‘real’ is it……...…….……….17-18
>Mindful Globalization and affordances……………………………….18-20
>Problem Space and Precedent Review……..……………………..…21-22

/5

07
08
09
10
11

Process development……………………………………..……….23-30
>CHIT CHAT CHAI”-The workshop………………………………………...23-26
> Primary research analysis……………………..………………………....…….28-30
Design synthesis and application….…………………………32-46
>PHASE 1(Prototype Development)…………………………….….…32-34
>PHASE 2(Testing and feed-Back loop)………………………….35-38
>User-testing, logic flow and Re-Design………..………………39-44
>General Considerations……………………………………....……………….…45-46

Conclusion………………………………………………………….48-52

Bibliography……………………………..…………………………53-54

Appendix……………………………………………………………..55-66

/6

Global immigration and population displacement are happening now at rates higher
than ever before in modern society. There is a compelling opportunity to take
advantage of networked technologies to preserve cultural identity in the face of
immigration while addressing problems of cultural integration. Personal devices such as
cell- phones and laptops that let us connect to the internet and one another are now
widely affordable and available. There is potential here that one might exploit by
sharing a network of knowledge that brings immigrant populations in touch with one
another and with the culture of their new “chosen” homeland.
This document presents a design research-based approach to possible future
explorations in the field of service design that promotes culture preservation. It explores
how a personally accessible mobile application can help to create and more
importantly, visualize a network of peers one can depend on for culturally relevant
information. The application was co-designed via a collaborative workshop with
members of PICS: Progressive Intercultural Community Services,Surrey (British
Columbia), a non-governmental organization that has been serving the community
since 1987. The article also explores how building a virtual community can be the node
to forming real-life communities and aid in cultural integration for recent Indian
immigrants to Vancouver. Furthermore, the article proposes subjective solutions and
their implications for a future of mindful globalization .

N.B.This work does not seek to address immediate issues
faced by refugees, religious minorities or any other
persecuted group of people, since their requirements are
more pressing and beyond the scope of this research.
However, it may be adapted to address needs of cultural
integration faced during settlement by such groups.

/8

KE
Y
W
OR
DS
/9

Network Knowledge,
User Experience,
Service Design,
Social Innovation,
Immigrant Communities,
Globalization.

/10

GLO
SSARY
OF
TERMS

* Recent immigrants (also known as newcomers without refugee status), are landed immigrants who have come to Canada up to five years prior to
current date, (source: newyouth.ca)

**In 1988, Donald Norman appropriated the term affordances in the context of human-machine interaction to refer to just those action possibilities
that are readily perceivable by an actor.Through Norman's book The Design of Everyday Things, this interpretation was popularized within the fields
of HCI , interaction design and user-centred design. It makes the concept dependent not only on the physical capabilities of an actor, but also on
their goals, beliefs, and past experiences.

/11

CULTURE: SHARED CUSTOMS, ARTS, SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS, SYSTEMS, LANGUAGE AND BELIEFS OF A
PARTICULAR NATION OR GROUP OF PEOPLE.
NEWCOMER: AN IMMIGRANT WHO HAS BEEN IN CANADA FOR A SHORT TIME, USUALLY LESS THAN 5
.
YEARS.*
NETWORK KNOWLEDGE: INTERCONNECTED ACCESSIBLE DATA BASE CREATED BY THE SHARING OF
INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET.
CYBERSPACE: TERM ORIGINALLY USED BY WILLIAM GIBSON IN HIS SCIENCE-FICTION NOVEL
‘NEUROMANCER’ IS A CONCEPTUAL SPACE CREATED BY COMPUTER MEDIATED TECHNOLOGY.
INTERFACE: POINT OF EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEN HUMANS AND MACHINES.
AFFORDANCE: THE QUALITIES OR PROPERTIES OF AN OBJECT OR SERVICE THAT HINT AT ITS POSSIBLE
USES OR MAKE CLEAR HOW IT CAN OR SHOULD BE USED.**
VIRTUAL COMMUNITY: SOCIAL AGGREGATIONS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND FORM
RELATIONSHIPS IN VIRTUAL SPACE CREATED BY COMPUTER MEDIATED TECHNOLOGY.
MINDFULNESS: “MINDFULNESS IN ITS MOST GENERAL SENSE IS ABOUT WAKING UP FROM A LIFE ON
AUTOMATIC, AND BEING SENSITIVE TO NOVELTY IN OUR EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES.”-DANIEL J. SIEGEL.
(SOURCE-HTTPS://POSITIVEPSYCHOLOGYPROGRAM.COM/WHAT-IS-MINDFULNESS-DEFINITION/)
REAL-LIFE:DESCRIBE EVENTS, PEOPLE, ACTIVITIES, AND INTERACTIONS OCCURRING OFFLINE; OR
OTHERWISE NOT PRIMARILY THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF THE INTERNET.

* Recent immigrants (also known as newcomers without refugee status), are landed immigrants who have come to Canada up to five years prior to
current date, (source: newyouth.ca)

**In 1988, Donald Norman appropriated the term affordances in the context of human-machine interaction to refer to just those action possibilities
that are readily perceivable by an actor.Through Norman's book The Design of Everyday Things, this interpretation was popularized within the fields
of HCI , interaction design and user-centred design. It makes the concept dependent not only on the physical capabilities of an actor, but also on
their goals, beliefs, and past experiences.

/12

LIST
OF
FIGUR
ES
/13

Fig 1.Conceptualizing the context of Research(April, 2018,Author)
Fig 2.Redefining Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs(access date December 2017, source: www.whatsthepoint.com)
Fig 3.Factors influencing design process(February 2018 ,Author)
Fig 4.Wordlens(access date April 2018, source:https://mashable.com/2015/01/14/google-translate-wordlens/#lm9V23lQJOqc)
Fig 5.Conference room where the workshop was held(July 2018,Author)
Fig 6.Images of participants at the ‘CHIT CHAT CHAI’ workshop at PICS.(July 2018,Author)
Fig 7. P.osters of the workshop at Surrey Central Station.(.(July 2018,Author)
Fig 8.Images of participants at the ‘CHIT CHAT CHAI’ workshop at PICS.(July 2018,Author)
Fig 9.Presentation at the ‘CHIT CHAT CHAI’ workshop(July 2018,Author)
Fig 10.Illustrated notes submitted by the participants at the workshop(August 2018,Author)
Fig 11.Examples of word-clouds created based on the frequency of words used by participants.(August
2018,Author)
Fig 12.’Easyimmi’, a map-based way finding application designed to help immigrants explore a new city
based on information provided by culturally similar users.(September 2018,Author)
Fig 13.1-2.Images of participants at the ‘Share your city project’ held at Emily Carr University of Art +
Design(November,2018,Author)
Fig.14..Images of presentation slides and participants at the ‘Share your city project’ held at Emily Carr
University of Art + Design (November 2018, Author)
Fig.15. Key issues with previous prototype(December 2018,Author)
Fig.16.(top)-previous tab with “like, follow and comment option”
(bottom)-low-fidelity sketches of network visualization(December 2018,Author)
Fig.17User-testing on participants according to given scenarios using paper-prototypes of Immigreat
application screens(February 2018, Author)
Fig.18.Tentative Business model (Trampoline : RADIUS LAB project*, March 2019, Author)
Fig 19. IMMIGREAT log-in screen ,(March 2019, Author)
Fig.20. Value Proposition and testing human centred design methods(Trampoline : RADIUS LAB project*,
February 2019, Author)

/14

/15

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Fig.1.Conceptualizing the context of Research
(Author)

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Communication platforms such as

Presently, as of March 2019, 55.6%** of

Thankfully you exist in a time and

books, radio, cinema, and television

the world’s population has the privilege

space where your cultural homeland

have all been a trigger to social

of easy access to information exchange

and people scattered around the world

revolutions in the past. However, we are

on a decentralized and participatory

who are culturally similar to you are

presently witnessing and actively

platform made possible by the Internet.

nestled in an all-inclusive bubble of

participating in the all-encompassing

The Internet has opened doors for

cyberspace. This ease of access, which

social revolution, yet, as the founder of

another form of existence in the virtual

the present generation has the

Fiverr.com , Micha Kauffman states in

dimension, what we often refer to as

privilege to enjoy, gives a new

his article for Forbes, “today almost

‘Cyberspace’.

dimension of existence. A new space.

everyone and everything is just a digital

Can this space be an opportunity to

handshake away.”*(2012)

help dispersed immigrants access

The roots of today's digital/social

Imagine yourself in a new place, very

culturally relevant knowledge in

media revolution first began in the

different from where you grew up. You

matters of geographic relocation?Can

1960s when it was discovered that

may be here for many reasons.

the cyberspace be that third node of

computers can be connected via the

Everything is new and fascinating! But,

connect that gives you cultural

ARPANET. Further developments in the

if you stay long enough, slowly this

comfort whenever and wherever you

computer-aided communication

feeling of newness fades away and you

need it and help make real-life

technology paved way for the Internet.

start having a feeling of disconnect

communities stronger and more

The Internet rapidly bridged the gap

instead. A sudden fear that everything

meaningful?

between the producers of public

you grew up with, sights, smells,

information and the consumers of the

sounds, tastes are becoming unfamiliar.

same.

*https://www.forbes.com/sites/michakaufman/2012/10/05/the-internet-revolution-is-the-new-industrial-revolution/#2a2002f47d5b
**https://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

/16

Existence in Cyberspace

Virtual Community building, how ‘real’ is it?

Very much like 'real-life', in the virtual world, we create an
identity and we exist in the form of clusters or communities

So how does one form communities in cyberspace?

based on interests, commonalities, likes or dislikes.

The word community comes from the Latin word communis,

Here, our identity is not based on physical markers unless we

which means "shared in common”(source:Wikipedia).

chose to make them seen. Howard Rheingold*, a critical writer

Unlike 'real life' communities, geographic proximity,

of modern communication media, clarifies that “We cannot see

physicality, and ethnicity cease to be factors that are shared

one another in cyberspace, gender, age, national origin, and

in common for creating ‘Virtual communities’.(a term coined

physical appearance is not apparent unless a person wants to

by Rhiengold) ‘Virtual communities’ are formed based on our

make such characteristics public.” (1993,p.26). What then is

choices. As Rheingold (1993) observes: “‘virtual communities

our identity beyond the pre-determined realms of attributes of

treat them[users] as they always wanted-as thinkers and

physicality and ethnicity? Political theorist , Darin Barney,

transmitters of ideas and feeling beings, not as carnal

helps us understand human identity by introducing us to a

vessels with a certain type of appearance and a way of

different set of identity markers. Barney (2004) explains,

walking and talking(or not walking and not talking)” (p.26) It

“When we name something we identify it, by classifying it with

is often argued that ‘Network’ communities are pseudo

other things that it is like, and apart from other things that are

communities that weaken ‘real’ communities and may

unlike.”(p.143) Thus according to Barney, identity is

appear to be meaningful but instead isolate us from the ties

associations of similarity and dissimilarity. This relatively fluid

of genuine interactions that are supported by geographical

concept of identity can help explain what he calls ‘Network

proximity.

Identity’ that marks one’s presence in cyberspace. The idea of

The shortcomings considered by Barney (2004,p.160) are,

inherited identity ceases to exist in cyberspace due to the

firstly, dislocation and disembodiment results in no sense of

non-existence of its physical form. Instead, it becomes a

belonging to a place or with people, which is crucial for a

dynamic blend of who we are and constantly changing notions

robust community experience. Secondly, withdrawal from

of who we want to be. Barney**(2004) observes, “Postmodern

real life experiences causes isolation in the offline world.

identity is artificial, fluid, contingent, multifaceted and

Thirdly, social interactions may be so customized to suit

mutable.”(p.151)

ones wants that platforms for general interest discussions

So, in cyberspace, you can be whoever you want to be and you

may soon diminish.

have the freedom to create ‘pseudo identities’
This may give rise to a dystopian fear that ‘virtual people’ are
not ‘real people’.
However, platforms such as Wikipedia, twitter, facebook, and
Instagram thrive due to this trust amongst virtual peers.Also,
we are quick to associate anonymity with immorality. Being
anonymous online does not mean one is untraceable anymore.
You are still accountable for your virtual identity and possibly,
identity fabrication maybe a little overrated.
However, the difference here is that our community building is
no longer based on geographical proximity. As it is in real life,
one cannot live in isolation in cyberspace. Cyberspace is an

Fig.2.Redefining Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
(source: www.whatsthepoint.com)

opportunity for conversations and thus a
potential space for community building. Communities share
intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs, and risks, but
primarily thrive by sharing conversations.

*Rheingold, H. (1993). Chapter 1 and 2. In The Virtual Community; Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier (pp. 1-64). New York: Harper Perennial. This
book questions whether a distinction between "virtual" communities and "real-life" communities is entirely valid when our “real-life” identities are
almost indistinguishable from our “virtual” identities. In fact, he argues that one can be more “real” and choose to communicate upon the virtual
common ground. Rheingold also discusses the far- reaching implications of technology on our social constructs. **
** Barney, D. (2004). Network Identity. In The Network Society (pp. 143-175). Polity Press.
In this chapter, Barney discusses the emergence of global information technology and its effect on identity.

/17

Lastly, the cyberspace promotes minimal moral binding and

As designers, it is important that we imagine the future of

thus promotes irresponsibility. These arguments are based

globalized societies and how we might mindfully contribute

on the earlier mentioned assumption that when a person is

to building them (see glossary of terms).

unaccountable he is immoral. The two may not be correlated

At present we, as the users of the internet, are networking

at all. Rheingold’s article provides us with a clearer picture of

on collaborative knowledge cyber pools and building trust

the reality of online communities. His documentation of

amongst our peers and creating a sense of openness in

being part of one of the pioneer virtual community called the

these virtual communities. Innovations, such as wikipedia,

Whole Earth ‘lectronic Link (abbreviated as WELL-a

google-maps etc. in cyberspace are harnessing the potential

computer-mediated conferencing system for public

of knowledge databases and connectivity. However, while

conversations and exchange of private email) provides us with

designing these platforms there are certain affordances that

insightful observations that are free from over-generalized

dictates its usability.

prejudices against virtual communities. His vivid descriptions

Affordance-a term coined by J.J Gibson in 1999 and

of relationships that he forms in cyberspace and their effects

popularized later by design guru Don Norman, plays a key

on his real life makes seemingly dystopian fears regarding

factor when one questions the design of globalized services

virtual communities seem unwarranted. Additionally, it is

and systems. Affordance determines inclusivity and

difficult to draw hasty conclusion knowing that ‘real’

exclusivity, and also the users and the usability. So who are

communities do not guarantee meaningful connections either.

we including in future societies and who are we excluding?

Barney(2004) addresses network community as being

In his book, ‘Ethnopolitics in Cyberspace’(2010) ,

convenient since: “they are mediated by devices that are

Geopolitical researcher,Dr.Robert Saunders optimistically

accessible in the private sphere of home, and because

points out that, “Cyberspace offers a great promise for the

networks enable 24-hour asynchronous communication-are

preservation of identity and national culture. Through

also often presented as more convenient than other forms of

computer-mediated communications, nations have the

community engagement. It is often suggested that virtual

ability to maintain and reinforce their identity in new and

communities are more meaningful than other forms of a

compelling ways. Anthems, legends, genealogies, histories,

community because they are volitional (i.e. people seek them

photographs, manuscripts and other tangible assets of

out).” (p.160)

national culture are being protected, distributed and
accessed in cyberspace. The internet in conjunction with

Mindful Globalisation and affordances

other information technologies such as satellite television
and inexpensive mobile phones has significantly contributed

Now that we have established how one chooses to exist in

to the so-called ‘death of distance’, thus lessening the need

cyberspace, let us now consider the ‘real-life’ scenario of

for individuals or communities to have face to face contact

globalization. According to one of the definitions proposed by

in order to build and maintain strong ties. These

UNESCO*, globalisation is “The acceptance of a set of

technological advances have been especially welcome

economic rules for the entire world designed to maximise

among stateless nations, ethnic minorities, and dispersed

profits and productivity by universalising markets and

immigrant communities who have historically lacked access

production, and to obtain the support of the state with a view

to many of the tools possessed by elites acting in the name

to making the national economy more productive and

of nation-states.” (p.58)

competitive”. One may often forget, with this limited

What you may ask now is, why should we care?

definition of globalization, are the human element associated

Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city and is ranked amongst the

with it.

top most livable cities around the world. A truly ‘global city’

With globalization comes human relocation and dilution of

recent statistics show that 52% **of the city’s population

long-established ‘real-life’ communities and the need to

has a first language other than English, this means that the

integrate into different ones. The term ‘globalisation’

city is a welcoming haven for many culturally diverse

indubitably sparks the image of widespread standardization in

immigrants.

one's mind and cultures to disappear into a future ‘Global
village’. Much like natural selection in evolution, cultures
that cannot thrive, fade away.
*http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/international-migration/glossary/globalisation/
**Statistics Canada. 2017. Greater Vancouver, RD [Census division], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province] (table). Census Profile. 2016
Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2016001. Ottawa. Released November 29, 2017.

/18

However, a survey by Vancouver foundation in 2017 shows that
1/4 ***of its people find themselves feeling more alone that
they would like to be. So are we shying away because of our
cultural differences instead of celebrating them?
The problem of feeling isolated is real, and these are not the
numbers you wish to associate with ideal future cities. It is
when you do not feel accepted that you start to distance
yourself from the company of others and society. Can
cyberspace be that third node of connect to build upon? To
form virtual communities that provide you with the strength of
weak ties, a concept illustratively discussed by Sociologist,
Granovetter, in his book The Strength of Weak Ties: A Network
Theory Revisited.(1983).Maybe this can give you the cultural
comfort whenever and wherever you need it? Can it help make
our real-life existence and societal integration stronger and
more meaningful?
This led me to my next step, to try and have a better
understanding of all the services newcomers presently rely on
to look for information during their settlement process.

/19

fdp.troper-egagnE-tcennoC-FV/selif/egagnennoc/semeht/lla/setis/ac.noitadnuofrevuocnav.www//:sptth
,7102,revuocnaV orteM fo yevruS A-egagnE & tcennoC,1 hpargaraP,sgnidniF yeK:ecruos

***Key Findings,Paragraph 1,Connect & Engage-A Survey of Metro Vancouver,2017,
https://www.vancouverfoundation.ca/sites/all/themes/connengage/files/VF-ConnectEngage-report.pdf

1/4
OF

VANCOUVERITES
Find themselves feeling more alone than they
would like to.

/20

Fig.3.Factors influencing design process(Author)

/21

The research led to some key insights with respect to the problem space and directed towards the
precedent review.
These insights were based on:
>The current platforms that immigrants use to rely on for information?
>SWOT analysis
>Barriers to entry and design opportunities (i.e. patterns or any issues that are not being addressed?)
>Possibilities of a virtual platform.

PROBLE
M
SPACE &
PRECED
ENT
REVIEW

With reference to the current media context, there are a number of resources for newcomers to
choose from to find information about settling into a new country.The most popular are facebook
groups to share information. However, it is important to note the risks attached to such platforms
with regards to privacy and manipulation. Personal information can be used for many reasons on
platforms such a facebook, and the user may or may not be the beneficiary.
There are many websites and Apps available that cater to immigrants in a host country. Websites
such as Quora (an example of computer mediated communication can help answer a wide variety of
questions. Although these forums are popular, answers are not received in real time.
Wordlens (Fig.4) is a Google application that helps translate road signs to your language of choice in
real time. This is one of the most advanced examples of technology taking advantage of a networked
data pool.
Meetup is an app and a website that brings together like minded communities virtually and that can
extend to real-life meetings as well.
Existing official immigration website by the Govt. of British Columbia, are informative and extensive.
However, more work needed here to prove due diligence and focus on being sensitive to specific
immigrant groups.
The most recent development as a digital resource is an application called Arrival Advisor, built by
Peace Geeks and funded by Google.It was launched in April 2019 and is only available in the province
of British Columbia. It is a guide to aid newcomers get through various paperwork necessary to
settle in Canada and understand the Canadian Society.Arrival Advisor goes a long way when it comes
to solving immediate problems faced by newcomers , however, it lacks the opportunity to build
networks and create a sense of acceptance of one's own cultural traditions and how to balance the
transition.
From the precedent review, it is apparent that while the immediate needs of newcomer immigrant
communities are partially served by multiple sources, there was a lack of resource to rely on when it
came to the cultural and social integration faced during the transition.
This led to the first phase of primary research. To understand the problem space better, I got in
touch with an NGO in February 2018. PICS or Progressive Intercultural Community Services
Society.PICS is a non-profit society that provides settlement services to assist new immigrants to
Canada. It is located in Surrey and has been serving the community since 1987.PICS organizes many
workshops and discussion sessions for new immigrants to Vancouver and greater Vancouver area to
educate them on various topics such as education, taxes, healthcare etc.

Fig.4.Wordlens(source:https://mashable.com/2015/01/14/google-translate-word-lens/#lm9V23lQJOqc)

/22

Fig.5-8(clockwise)
5)Conference room where the workshop was held.(Author)
6)mages of participants at the ‘CHIT CHAT CHAI’ workshop at PICS.(Author)
7)Posters of the workshop at Surrey Central Station.(Author)
8)Images of participants at the ‘CHIT CHAT CHAI’ workshop at PICS.(Author)

/23

With help from Dr. Kang, (settlement Program Manager at PICS ) and
Ms.Kamaljeet Bharya (Settlement Counsellor) a better understanding of
the kind of formation that newcomers seek in settlement NGOS was
gathered. Additionally, it was also important to understand the various
services similar settlement NGOs provide for their members and
recognize the potential for design opportunities.
The specific needs of the community were studied and how these needs
are different and in some cases similar to needs of other groups such as
more settled immigrants, refugees, and the general population.
These needs include:
>Access to employment, including higher rates of unemployment,
>Poor recognition of foreign diplomas, certification and work
experience,
>Education system not adapting to the diversity of the population (at the
level of the educators),
>Inadequate support for parents and students to know how the school
system works here(in terms of how different the education system is),
>Need for more affordable housing,
>Services offered by large organizations do not reflect the diversity of
the population nor the individualized needs of the community member,
>Significant language barriers for non-official language speakers

Additionally, when it came to social integration, most newcomer families
are transnational, meaning that they maintain connections across
borders, with family and friends.This creates a constant comparison
between the lives they live in a new country and the one they had back
home. They find themselves constantly balancing the need to preserve
values and practices from the home country and fitting in with practices
and values in the new country.It is most common to find youth figuring
out “who they are” – balancing their heritage and their roles in a new
society since they tend to acculturate faster than their parents, creating
stressors within the family. Changing roles for men and women and also
of different members of the family become apparent
By the end of summer 2018, a workshop was organized at PICS called
'CHIT CHAT CHAI’ to have a deeper understanding of the problem
space.It was held in the community center itself. It was scheduled from
10 am to 12 noon on the 26th of July 2018.
Posters such as the one on the left were stuck near the community
centre as well as other relevant locations. Electronic fliers were also
personally emailed to some of the community centre members.The
workshop was created keeping in mind a casual atmosphere where the
participants felt that it was more like a social gathering than a
workshop. Participants were provided with light refreshments. The total
count of participants that attended the entire time of the workshop was
12. The community center helped in arranging childcare for some
participants.
A student-volunteer who was a translator was also assigned.
Most participants were of Indian origin since the community center is
located in a primarily Indian locality. Other ethnicities were also
welcome, however, this helped me focus my research on
a specific ethnic group.
After a brief presentation regarding the interests of the research and
about the workshop, participants were given invitation and consent
material. They were also required to sign a media release form.

“CHITCHAT
CHAI” -THE

Fig.9..1.Presentation at the ‘CHIT CHAT CHAI’ workshop.(Author)

/25
Fig.10.Illustrated notes submitted by the participants at the workshop(Author)

Fig.9..2.Presentation at the ‘CHIT CHAT CHAI’ workshop.(Author)

The workshop was conducted in two parts.
PART 1: Where do you find information related to immigration and
settling down in a new country?
Then they were invited to share where they find information
related to immigration and settling down in a new country with reference
to different categories i.e
-Family,
-Friends, and acquaintances,
-Community centers/NGO’s and Government offices,
print media,
-Apps/online networking
and others.
They were asked to then clip them together in order of preference.

PART 2: Then and Now:
Participants had to illustrate their social life 'then'(homeland) and
'now'(after immigrating to a new country). Participants were encouraged
to use a variety of methods to express this and were provided with
stickers, colored pens, paper cut outs and various craft material. Much
was observed in the process.
Data was collected in the form of hand-written cards and illustrations
created by the participants themselves.
Note-taking was also a primary part of the data collection process.
Some participants gave consent to being photographed. Additionally,
some of them gave consent to using pseudonyms for direct quotes.
Although ethically similar, these participants had varied cultural and
socio-economic backgrounds, as well as age groups, which made the
workshop quite fruitful and informative.

/26

PRIMARY RESEARCH
ANALYSIS
The workshop was designed in such a way that

People have seemed to rely on information at

it would help identify and analyze a few key

places of worship, counsellors, language

points.

schools, other NGO’s and even park benches!

Additionally to have a wider understanding of

Some also mentioned facebook, yelp and

the already existing platform for community

craigslist. It seemed that most relied on

building that recent immigrants

physically existing communities as

use. It was designed to identify pain points that

compared to virtual ones. However, the idea of

recent immigrants have with regard to culture

being part of a virtual community was not

loss and whether they have been adequately

uncommon. Neither was the idea of depending

addressed and which platforms of community

on crowd-sourced knowledge. Everyone in the

building that were already popular and also the

room seemed to already have access to a

ones that had potential. The data collected was

smartphone, but it seemed that this potential

exclusively qualitative than quantitative in

was not being fully recognized. Why was this

nature. To better visualize my analysis, the

so?

data was visualized in the form of word clouds.

The group that participated had a variety of

The clouds helped to understand the human

questions with regard to immigration. jobs,

network one relies on. Family is the most

policies, schools, transport, pension laws,

important. Some chose to be more specific

taxes, housing etc. While they all had shared

about the family member and the kind of help

concerns, they had different approaches to

that they received. It is understandable that

them. Many seemed to have already contacted

new circumstances bring families closer

NGO’s and government offices for help. They

together. Conversations led to ask, what if the

seemed to agree that the process was

family is far away? Friends and colleagues were

confusing but it was reassuring to know that

also popular answers and so were neighbours.

they had support.

But somewhere mid-way in the workshop, complete strangers began to help each other and
share their experiences. In fact, it seemed that the ability network and help others were in itself
rewarding. People had networks that they wanted to share and felt a sense of happiness not
only in finding networks but in providing them too. It gave them a sense of empowerment.
What seemed to become apparent is; was there a way to visualize these networks better and to
share them in a more accessible format. The mobile network of cell-phones and the accessibility
of the internet were two easy nodes to build upon.

/28
Fig.10.Illustrated notes submitted by the participants at the workshop(Author)

Fig.11.Examples of word-clouds created based on the frequency of
words used by participants.(Author)

/29

/30

PHASE 1(PROTOTYPE
DEVELOPMENT)
The primary research analysis led to

To log in to the application the user had to fill

developing a tentative platform as a working

in their standard personal information such as

base for the final design.This prototype was

Username, age ,sex etc.Additionally, the log-in

designed keeping in mind the following key

also required the user to fill in the following

attributes:

information.
Native country(drop down menu with options)

1)Culturally relevant: which implies that it

Date of arrival

empowers the users cultural ideals of everyday

Reason (drop down menu with options)

experiences.

(* optional for signing up)Based on what the

2)Easily available: It was important to identify

user fills in the application will sort and ensure

the population and position it in such a way

that users can interact with those of similar

that the users can have access to it whenever

cultural background as per their mentioned

they wish to.

native country .

3) Adaptable: means that even though it is

They can then browse through maps based on

specialized for certain immigrants, it has the

different categories such as food, shopping,

scope to modify for other such populations.

community meetups, grocery etc. The
information that they receive will have more

This initial medium-fidelity prototype of an

probability of having cultural validation

application was a platform for newcomers to

depending on the trust amongst virtual peers.

browse and share maps based on their cultural

i.e if you were Malaysian looking for a certain

interests.

type of community experience your ethnically

Fig 12 shows the wireframe for this

similar virtual peers may be able to guide you

application, and illustrates the UI of the

to it. Additionally you can choose to create

application.’Easyimmi’, a map-based way

your own map and share it. You have the

finding application designed to help

option to follow and like your peers too.

immigrants explore a new city based on

Additional feature would include real-time

information provided by culturally similar

language translation and direct peer to peer

users.

support.

This platform could be used by newcomers to
connect with one another to share ideas and

This tentative design was it was helpful in the

experiences.

ideation to the platform.
Later phases included analyzing this platform
and recognizing alternative approaches.

/32

EAS
Y
IMM
I
Fig.12.’Easyimmi’, a map-based way finding application designed to help immigrants
explore a new city based on information provided by culturally similar users.
(Author)

/33

Loading

Homepage/User Profile

Log-in Page/User Info

Tab with follow and Chat
feature

Way-finding modifier

Translation,Visual and verbal

Browse Map

/34

Fig 13.1.Image of participant at the ‘Share your city project’ held at Emily Carr University of Art +
Design (Author)

/35

PHASE 2(TESTING AND
FEED-BACK LOOP)
The most important feedback received from

With help from a group of Graduate students

the a few potential users during the first phase

in the MDes 2017-19 cohort at Emily Carr

of testing the design prototype is that the

University of Art + Design the idea was further

design lacked:

tested via a studio experiment called the
“Share your City-Vancouver Project”.13 out of

A) Tangibility of a real-life community

17 students in the cohort were newcomers to
Canada. This project was designed to

B) Feelings and emotions associated with a real

understand the kinds of stories people wished

life community

to share and read about when there are new to
a city. It was found to be quite insightful.

C) Nuances of a real-life community.

Participants were given a map of Metro
Vancouver and were asked to locate spots
around Vancouver that reminds them most of

So far, the designed platform consisted of

home and pin them on maps given to each.

groups of people (having similar cultural

These spots were based on cultural nuances of

backgrounds) allowing them to share their

their homeland such as:

favourite spots in the city via a map sharing

Tastes

application and this way grow followers and

Systems

popularity.

Symbols

Soon it was realized that what the design

Languages

considered secondary, was exactly what recent

Smells

immigrants are looking for, the tangibility of a

Beliefs

real-life community.It was important to

Habits

explore this idea further, and not simply

Sights

conclude that this cannot be possible in the

Sounds

virtual form.

/36

Participants were given 15 mins to locate them.
The maps were then cut up into 10 parts and randomly distributed till
each person had a collection of pieces and could create a collage of a
map. Then they were, invited to sit around a table and discuss their later
maps. Every map around the table consisted of a morphed version of the
owner's original map intermingled with the story of someone else around
the table at random. Everyone talked and shared stories about home and
Vancouver city, things that fit and things that do not. By the end of the
session, everyone seemed to know each other and the city better: where
the city smells like a Hunan village and where to find authentic
Ecuadorian food. This session helped in realizing that it was important
not only to map out these spots on a map but also to share the personal
story behind them each. Can there exist a platform that took advantage
of the accessibility of a virtual community and the embodied connect of a
physical one, making the knowledge exchanged more relevant?

Fig.13.2.Images of participants at the ‘Share
your city project’ held at Emily Carr
University of Art + Design (Author)

/37

Fig.14..Images of presentation slides and participants at the ‘Share your city
project’ held at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (Author)

/38

/39

USER-TESTING, LOGICFLOW AND RE-DESIGN
The studio explorations led to further re-

What the previous design considered

designing of the application that was initially

secondary and comfortably contained in a

proposed. During this process, the need for the

narrow tab on top of the screen for users to

application where one could incorporate

assess how many people “like, follow and

understandings of empathy, virtual

comment” became the most important aspect

communities, and culture was felt.

in the redesign of the application.

Previously, the application was a map sharing
platform that was populated by culturally
similar immigrants when they travel to a new
country and could share and browse maps.
It now became important that through the
application the users could visualize their
progress through a certain time period of
moving to a new city. The analysis would
be based on the user's feelings and how much
the user's network has grown since. The need
for the user to visualize their network of
friends, family, colleagues, strangers etc.
better, needed to be incorporated (just like
how one feels to be sitting
around the table with them. As the user's
network grows, more chairs are added to the
table.) This visualization was necessary to
serve as a reminder to assure that there is
support the user can reach out to.

/40

Fig.15 Key issues with previous prototype (Author)

Fig.16. (top)-previous tab with “like, follow and
comment option”
(bottom)-low-fidelity sketches of network
visualization(Author)

/41

Sharing and browsing maps still remain key

A secondary feature that was considered were

aspects of the application, but the people and

prompts that the users can use to track their

their stories behind them were now more

mood over a period of time,This helps the user

important. The application allows the user to

understand how they are feeling and have felt.

browse through stories that people who are

This may make the user feel a sense of

culturally similar to the users have shared.

assurance or empowerment if they see that
they are doing better or prompt them to
actively seek support if not .However during

Some of the primary features of the application

user-testing, this feature seemed intrusive and

are:

distracting as users could not accurately

a) Users can filter maps according to the

describe the exact mood they felt and ‘mixed-

experiences they wish to seek in the new city,

feelings’ was the usual answer. This made the

i.e. experiences of smell, tastes, sounds etc.

‘mood-tracker’ redundant.

b)They can follow other users and add them to
their network,
c) They can virtually contact them via the app,

Participants also wanted to see more options

d) Users can request to meet them in real-life

when it came to “culture-categories” i.e taste,

e) The application is designed to make meet-

smell, sound, sight etc.

ups in groups very convenient.ie easy selection

It was felt that an ‘other’ tab needed to be

and creation of virtual groups and filtering

added to make the idea of culture more fluid.

availability of connected users for meet-ups.
(avoiding it from becoming a dating app).
f) Lastly, users can request other users to form

The name of the application was changed from

virtual groups to share commonalities.

‘Easyimmi’ to ‘Immigreat’

Participants during the user-testing were given
different personas and scenarios.

During the testing, it was felt that being able to
connect in groups instead of one on one meetup was found to be successful. Participants
were more relaxed, felt encouraged to share
their information and required lesser
information about the other users for them to
connect.

/42

Fig.17..User-testing on participants according to
given scenarios using paper-prototypes of
Immigreat application screens(Author)

/43

/44

Fig.18.Tentative Business model (Trampoline : RADIUS LAB project*, March 2019, author)

*Trampoline, a refugee livelihood program, is a12-week program for people who have an idea for a social business or non-profit that will address
problems faced by refugee and newcomer communities in Surrey.It is funded by The City of Surrey, Surrey Local Immigration Partnership, SFU
International, Innoweave, Mowafaghian Foundation, and The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction

/45

Tentative models of

FUNDING

GENERAL
CONSIDERA
TIONS
Opportunity to meet in real-life:

i) Advertising
1) Free, But With Ads (In-Service Advertising)
2) Sponsorship (Incentivized Advertising)

ii) User-funding
1) Freemium (gated features)
2) In-service Purchases (Selling Physical/Virtual Goods)
3) Paid to access (Costs Money to Download)

iii) Blended- model
Step 1-BUILD USER-BASE
Step 2-RELEVANT LOCAL ADVERTISING
Step 3-ULTRA PREMIUM PAYWALLS

The platform provides with the opportunity for users to connect
face to face in real life.One of the features of the platform is to
promote group activities and meetups instead of one on one meet
up. The choice to meet up in real life depends on the users, as well
as to share any contact information via the app (users can choose to
connect via the app or if the user chooses to share personal contact
information)
Additionally, users have ‘user rating’ on the app, based on the
frequency of their activity and how useful the information they
share is for other users.This will help determine the credibility of
the user. Additionally, users can report fraudulent activity.

Concerns regarding privacy:

Online privacy is a cause of concern for many and rightfully so,
since it involves having to disclose your personal information that
is placed in ever-increasing number of databases that can be
accessed by a number of other companies.While tech companies
argue they need personal information to offer individualized
services, they often fail to strike a balance between invading privacy
and providing targeted user-customized advertising and fighting to
grab the users attention but not being able to hold on to it with
non-relevant advertising.
Privacy preservation and relevant local advertising would be very
important for an application such as this, especially because of the
user-base in concern.
Some of the ways in which user privacy can be respected is by
understanding how much information is required for a user to
provide to be able to use the application. This in turn can also help
build trust amongst users.Any contact information that is shared
will the user’s discretion and not a requirement. Restricted
collection of data on individuals, requiring consent from them
before gathering information, allowing customers to opt out of the
service, providing consumer access to correct information, and
requiring security of those databases would be important steps to
ensure user privacy.

/46

This thesis presents the application in its preliminary stage of
research and testing of its design.The application will be further
developed at the RADIUS lab.*

*RADIUS is a social innovation hub based out of the Beedie School of Business, SFU

/47

08

CONCLUSI
ON

Cyberspace has many attributes, and is essential to recognize that
accessibility is one of them. An important question to ask is, can this
ease of access be that third node of connect to build better virtual
communities that can give you the cultural comfort whenever and
wherever you need it, and in turn make 'real-life' communities
stronger and meaningful? And can this comfort make 'real -life'
social integration for newcomers easier?
My work helped me gain a deeper understanding of the risks and benefits
involved in building virtual communities and their effects on new
immigrants.
The idea of this research is not to build isolated clusters of virtual
communities that shy away from real interactions, instead, it is to help users
visualize a network of peers they can depend on for culturally relevant
information when they find themselves in unfamiliar environments and do
not have real-life communities to depend on.
In conclusion I would like to share that during the course of my work, one of
my professors passionately pointed out , "How can you feel you are sitting
around a table with friends in the virtual world?"
It is my understanding now, as a designer, the question to ask is, rather than
if we can, whether we should create a table of friends in the virtual world.
There are many risks involved with the idea of building virtual
communities, but the benefits of the internet and its reach must not
be overlooked.The application may not the solution to breaking
barriers of social segregation and help solve the complexities
involved in social acceptance, but instead it must be viewed as a
modest step towards it.

As Robert Saunders correctly observes,

“One cannot experience the heat of
the jubilant crowd, the eerie sense
of connection that comes from a
thousand voices chanting in
unison, or the smell of one’s
homeland on a spring morning on
the internet-in other words the
lived is still the exclusive property
of real space”(2011, p.61)

/48

FUTURE
OF
RESEARCH,
*Trampoline, a refugee livelihood program, is a12-week program for people who have an
idea for a social business or non-profit that will address problems faced by refugee and
newcomer communities in Surrey. It is funded by The City of Surrey, Surrey Local
Immigration Partnership, SFU International, Innoweave, Mowafaghian Foundation, and
The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction

/49

This project is currently in its incubation phase at RADIUS Lab,Trampoline* program (part of Beedie
School of Business at
Simon Fraser University.)The programme schedule helps to develop ideas, create business models,
provide advice on finance , recognize and develop teams and work with advisors in similar areas of
interest.
It finally leads to a presentation pitch to potential investors or collaborators on May 7th 2019.
The 3-month programme schedule is as follows:

1, Tuesday February 12th, 5:45-8:45 : Purpose and Value Proposition
2. Tuesday February 19th, 5:45-8:45 : Human Centered Design methods
3. Tuesday February 26th, 5:45-8:45: Advisor session
4. Wednesday March 6th, 5:45-8:45: Minimum Viable Product and Business Models- Room 418
5. Tuesday March 12th, 5:45-8:45: Business Model Canvas
6. WednesdayMarch 20th, 5:45-8:45: Advisor session- Room 418
7. Tuesday March 26th, 5:45-8:45: Finance and Modeling
8. Wednesday April 3rd, 5:45-8:45: Advisor session- Room 402
9. Tuesday April 9th, 5:45-8:45: Leadership and Team Development
10. Tuesday April 16th, 5:45-8:45: Design Challenge!!
11. Tuesday April 23rd, 5:45-8:45: Q& A and Co-working session, prepare for presentations
12. Tuesday April 30th: Your Final Presentations! Make an ask to potential funders and supporters
with influence in the systems you are trying to change.

/50

TRAMPOLI
NE:
RADIUS
LAB

Fig.19. IMMIGREAT log-in screen ,(March 2019, author)

/51

Fig 20. Value Proposition and testing human centred design methods(Trampoline : RADIUS LAB project*, February 2019, author)

/52

BIBLIOGRA
PHY

/53

McCoy, K. (2000). Information and Persuasion: Rivals or
Partners? Design
Issues, 16(3), 80-83. doi:10.1162/07479360052053342
Marcus, A., & Gould, E. W. (2000, August). Crosscurrents:
Cultural Dimensions
and Global Web User-Interface Design. New York: ACM
Digital library
Collins,H. (2010). Creative Research, The Theory and
Practice of Research for
the Creative Industries. New York: Bloomsbury

Rheingold, H. (1993). Chapter 1 and 2. In The Virtual
Community; Homesteading
on the Electronic Frontier (pp. 1-64). New York:Harper
Perennial.

Publishing Plc
Oppenheim,H.L(2013)Globalization, Mindfulness and
Community. American

Barney, D. (2004). Network Identity. In The Network
Society (pp. 143-175). Polity
Press.

Jewish University, USA.Vol. V, No. 2Gl
Kelly, E. P., & Rowland, H. C. (2000, May). Ethical and

Saunders, R.(2011). Chapter 2. Ethnopolitics in
Cyberspace: The Internet,
Minority Nationalism, and the Web of Identity (pp. 58).
Maryland: Rowman and
Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

Online Privacy Issues in Electronic Commerce. Business

Kietzmann, J. H., Hermkens, K., McCarthy, I. P., &
Silvestre, B. S. (2011). Social
media? Get serious!
Understanding the Functional Building Blocks of Social
Media. Business Horizon,
54(3), 241-251.

Granovetter, M. (1983). The Strength of Weak Ties: A

Horizons, 43(3), 3. Retrieved from
https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A63736746/AON
E?u=googlescholar&sid=AONE&xid=b9918659

Network Theory Revisited. Sociological Theory, 1,
201.doi:10.2307/202051

Best Practices In Supporting the Integration of
Mullet, K. (2003). The Essence of Effective Rich Internet
Applications. San
Francisco, CA: Macromedia.

Immigrant Families Through Small Ethno-cultural

Fogg, B. J. (2003). Prominence-Interpretation Theory:
Explaining How People
Access Credibility Online. CHI: New Horizons,722-723.

https://www.spcottawa.on.ca/sites/all/files/pdf/2010

Organizations. (2010, December). Retrieved April 24,
2019, from
/Publications/Best-Practices-Supporting-ImmigranFamilies-English.pdf

/54

ANNOTATED
BIBLIOGRA
PHY

N.B. THE FOLLOWING HAVE
BEEN REFERENCED AS
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
FOR PRELIMINARY
RESEARCH.

/55

Key Findings. (2017, November 29). Retrieved February
22, 2018, from https://www.vancouverfoundation.ca/
connectandengage/key-findings
This current report continues the conversation that was
started in 2012, revealing more about who is
experiencing challenges of building “bonds and bridges”
• Saunders, R.(2011). Chapter 2. Ethnopolitics in
Cyberspace: The Internet, Minority Nationalism, and the
Web of Identity (pp. 58). Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield
Publishing Group, Inc.
As book discusses the rise of cyber nations forming in
cyberspace.Although, this concept remains largely
debatable, what one may be compelled to wonder are the
possibilities of inclusion the cyberspace provides for
minorities and immigrants.
• Barney, D. (2004). Network Identity. In The Network
Society (pp. 143-175). Polity Press.
In this chapter, Barney discusses the emergence of global
information technology and its effect on identity. Barney
emphasizes on the fact that network technology not only
changes the way we live, but our combination of choices
also determine who we are. In this technological network,
identity is more than physicality, geographic location or
other culturally imposed factors. What one may ask, is
‘Network identity’ truly disconnected from geographic
location and cultural factors?

within and between communities in Metro Vancouver. It
also discusses groups that are prone to being more
vulnerable to social isolation.Since 2012, the main
obstacle people identify to participating has shifted from
‘not having anything to do’, to ‘not having enough time’.
Has life speeded up in the last five years? Why aren’t we
more aware of opportunities to connect? The survey
does not discuss alternative methods but instead
provides with factual data.With the explosion of
connected devices and social media, we’re sure it has
never been easier to find out more about recreational
activities.We wonder if people know where to look, and
are there other more conventional barriers – like time
and money – prevent them from participating?
• Rheingold, H. (1993). Chapter 1 and 2. In The Virtual
Community; Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier
(pp. 1-64). New York: Harper Perennial.
• This book questions whether a distinction between
"virtual" communities and "real-life" communities is
entirely valid when our “real-life” identities are almost
indistinguishable from our

/56

• Fogg, B. J. (2003). Prominence-Interpretation Theory:
referencing.
McCoy, K. (2000). Information and Persuasion: Rivals or
Partners? Design Issues, 16(3), 80-83. doi:
• 10.1162/07479360052053342 The author mentions
,’Persuasive rhetoric is as simple as the boldface type
highlighting a name when we scan a newsmagazine
paragraph. But screen-based electronic media create
both the opportunity and imperative for a far deeper
application of persuasive rhetoric through
interactivity, sound, and motion.’ The concept that
interests me the most is if cultural persuasion can be
used to draw attention to certain information. Data
Management, processing and interpretation has often
been considered as a dry and tedious task, however the
process be made more compelling and relevant by
using a persuasive cultural techniques?

Explaining How People Access Credibility Online. CHI:
New Horizons, 722-723.
In this article Fogg discusses the credibility of websites;
if users think a site and its information and services can
or cannot be trusted. He discusses the ProminenceInterpretation theory which states that if something is
made prominent on a site, the user will have a
judgement. However the judgement may differ depending
on assumption, knowledge and context. Thus these
interpretations are highly influenced by the user’s
culture. Profitability of a site depends on user
involvement, site topic, user task and user skill.

• Mullet, K. (2003). The Essence of Effective Rich
• Marcus, A., & Gould, E. W. (2000, August).
Crosscurrents: Cultural Dimensions and Global Web
User-Interface Design. New York: ACM Digital library
The text illustrates with interface examples of
comparative websites and how they differ based on the
culture dimension index, carefully dissecting values
and yet not stereotyping.The author discusses many
relevant habits of cultures very quantitatively instead
of qualitatively. This helps to map out a clear image of
how different communities interact with interface. It
also helps to draw subjective conclusions to interfaces
that appeal to certain communities simply because of
the way that N.B. The following have been referenced
as annotated
they have been designed. bibliography for preliminary
research planning. Since this is a project in progress, it
will include in depth literature review and thus will
require further

Internet Applications. San Francisco, CA: Macromedia.
The article talks of the positive connotations of
‘seamless, focused, connected and aware’ interaction of
software which has now become a privacy threat in
present times. Can interface design somehow help pave
way for the opposite? Make users be connected
seamlessly and aware of their digital footprints?

• Kietzmann, J. H., Hermkens, K., McCarthy, I. P., &
Silvestre, B. S. (2011). Social media? Get serious!
Understanding the Functional Building Blocks of Social
Media. Business Horizon, 54(3), 241-251.
The text reflects an objective categorization of user
generated information which one chooses to share on
specific social interaction websites which I feel is a
reference to how much it is relevant in different
cultures.

/57

APPENDIX

/58

APPENDIX

/59

APPENDIX

/60

APPENDIX

/61

APPENDIX

/62

/63

APPENDIX

/64

APPENDIX

Excerpts from this document were discussed a the Tedx event on March 16th 2019 at Emily Carr
University of Art + Design.

/65

APPENDIX

/66