For this reason, we argue that HCI4D researchers
should carefully examine and reºect on the forms of
participation they employ. Several questions come to
mind: Who decides on the overall aims of a participatory
project? How might someone in the
beneªciary community be able to change focus of
the project? What budgetary control does the community
have over the project? To what extent are
the software and hardware designers contracted to
deliver benefits to the community, or vice versa?
And ªnally, who will judge the project’s success or
failure? We present these questions both as a practical
reference for use at the outset of a participatory
HCI4D project, and to stimulate discussion around
this issue within the HCI4D community.