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The approaches in User-Centered Design (UCD) vary from Participatory Design (PD) to model-based engineering. No matter the approach, UCD is not the simple, clear-cut way to successful systems development as is sometimes made out. To discuss these issues the authors arranged a one-day workshop at the Participatory Design Conference (PDC'98) in Seattle on November 14, 1998 entitled" User Centered Design-Problems and Possibilities"[1]. The purpose of this workshop was to discuss the problems encountered in UCD in practice and possible solutions, focusing on case studies in real systems development projects. Ten position papers were accepted and the workshop gathered 16 participants from 7 different countries. The position papers are available on the workshop web site [1].

This paper is a summary of the work performed prior to and during the workshop. The main areas discussed are used as …