Hardware research is infinitely more difficult to do than software research. You have a physical object to manage, that often has a digital component to it as well, which can break down and is very hard to update. But there's also another key consideration: how your hardware interacts with a diverse physical environment.

Vanessa leads research for iRobot, makers of the Roomba. In her talk, Vanessa outlines how using ethnographic methods was key to the development of the Roomba, and how getting onsite to see different styles of homes helped shape the product.