This first module presented an interesting introduction to Human Computer Interaction. I was intrigued as I started the readings, first with the course information, then the article on critical thinking and finally with the text selections. Honestly I was surprised to find so much biology in a computer science course.
In the Design of Everyday Things, I was amused to find myself going back to the days of working at OSU's Accounts Receivable Department. I honestly thought that the phone system doubled as some kind of psychology study. I was constantly disconnecting people by accident because the "hold" and "transfer" buttons were right next to each other. One was red and the other orange. When you are dealing with a multi-line phone system at the height of the day its very easy to mistake red for orange. I thought myself to be mentally defective sometimes but I really wasn't helped by the design of the telephone. Sensory limits, cognitive processing limits - do they both apply?
I am frightened to think of all the the things designers have to take into account. Some things may seem obvious to us but when you have to take into account what different populations of different people from different areas, can or can't do, see, react to, respond to, reach, see, hear, process, learn, forget, perform accurately, or inaccurately, respond to emotionally, when they may be fully rested, or very fatigued... it boggles the mind!
