Harris Introduces Co-creation Technique for Kids

Harris Interactive has launched a new methodology to enable children and teenagers to participate in the co-creation of new products and services.

The firm's new Brainwaves technique uses laptop computers to bring up to 20 participants together for the purposes of brainstorming and co-creation. It blends qualitative brainstorming and facilitation with quantitative voting and survey tools.

Online or offline sessions are run with children as young as 9 years, and the firm also organises 90 minutes sessions in school classrooms at the end of the school day. Feedback is anonymous and all participants are able to influence proceedings equally.

Through open text input, the data quickly identifies issues, which are then categorised. These themes can then be explored, ranked, polled or voted on to understand relevant and motivating areas to pursue through further questioning.

Clients can use the feedback in a number of development areas such as content creation, web site design, new product development and refinement of marketing materials.

Youth and Kids Research Consultant Steve Mellor explained: 'We believe we have found a way to enable kids to help shape brands and services through the careful application of networked technology that harnesses ideas and develops their potential.'

Harris Interactive believes the technique helps alleviate traditional problems with engaging children. The firm recently used Brainwaves with a well known children's broadcaster, and said that by the end of the session, participants were cheering as output appeared on the screens in front of them.

Brainwaves is one of a number of new services offered by the firm's Youth and Kids practice.

Web site: www.harrisinteractive.com .