I was particularly intrigued by Norman's discussion on aesthetics. On page 151 he writes... [Frank Lloyd] Wright evidently wasn't very sympathetic about complaints. When Herbert F. Johnson... called Wright to say that his roof was leaking all over a dinner guest, the architect is said to have responded, "Tell him to move his chair." Now I happen to like Frank Lloyd Wright's designs very much. But not enough to sit under a deluge of water for the sake of beauty.
But we do like pretty stuff. When I think of a Mac vs. a PC, the Mac is more attractive, sleeker, newer looking. Its probably contributing significantly to its moving up in the market share vs. PC. PC is still the 300 lb. gorilla in comparison, but Mac is steadily chipping away. What exactly is the use of a matching suite of computer peripherals? Is my laptop better because my mouse, mouse pad and printer are the same lime green? No. But it is attractive.
Some argue that aesthetics make products more fun to use. In an article/blog from Usability Post, Dmitry Fadeyev says, "We get happiness and enjoyment from a lot of beautiful products. Take cars for example. Any car would get you from point A to point B (hopefully), but we just won’t have as much fun driving a Lada as an Audi." Well I don't really know what a Lada is, but I have driven some UGLY cars in my day. I have a lot more fun in my gold, sporty V6 than in those days when I drove (or sometimes pushed) a primer gray 1983 Renault Alliance with the right side mirror hanging by a thread!
Fadeyev, D. (2008). Do UI Aesthetics Matter?. Usability Post. Retrieved November 20, 2008 from http://www.usabilitypost.com/2008/09/17/do-ui-aesthetics-matter/.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Module 3 Blog Post
I saw the coolest thing ever on 60 Minutes last week!!! Module 3 discusses the various user interfaces with computers... "In addition to keyboard input, pens, voice signals, and even thought patterns are being studied and used with ever greater efficacy." Well 60 Minutes had a story about the last interface that was so AWESOME!
The story focused on the developing technology that allows paralyzed individuals control their computers and wheelchairs with their minds! Yeah, I know, freaky right? One of the people interviewed was a doctor who had developed Lou Gehrig's disease at the age of 40. At this point he only has movement in his left eye. With the help of this brain control interface (BCI) that allows him to think about a letter, he can spell out words that the computer reads aloud. It was amazing and inspiring to see that he can now communicate with his wife and sons. Another woman who had a stroke that left her totally paralyzed, was able to steer her motorized wheel chair by just thinking about where she wanted it to go. The amount of freedom these people are being given despite their circumstances is just unbelievable.
Developing this interface would be much different than gathering ergonomic information. In Module 3 there's a figure that illustrates guidelines for optimal viewing angles. What would it be like to have to develop these parameters for BCI? Would ergonomic considerations even be an issue? What role would memory (or the lack thereof) affect this interface? I would imagine there are differences in the way that people think. How do you account for that? Maybe there would be differing BI interfaces for spatial thinkers vs. people that respond better to visual stimuli. It opens up a limitless horizon of possibilities.
It makes me wonder what it would be like to write a 10 page paper by just thinking about it. Maybe they can get this thing up and running by, say, mid-December...?
The story focused on the developing technology that allows paralyzed individuals control their computers and wheelchairs with their minds! Yeah, I know, freaky right? One of the people interviewed was a doctor who had developed Lou Gehrig's disease at the age of 40. At this point he only has movement in his left eye. With the help of this brain control interface (BCI) that allows him to think about a letter, he can spell out words that the computer reads aloud. It was amazing and inspiring to see that he can now communicate with his wife and sons. Another woman who had a stroke that left her totally paralyzed, was able to steer her motorized wheel chair by just thinking about where she wanted it to go. The amount of freedom these people are being given despite their circumstances is just unbelievable.
Developing this interface would be much different than gathering ergonomic information. In Module 3 there's a figure that illustrates guidelines for optimal viewing angles. What would it be like to have to develop these parameters for BCI? Would ergonomic considerations even be an issue? What role would memory (or the lack thereof) affect this interface? I would imagine there are differences in the way that people think. How do you account for that? Maybe there would be differing BI interfaces for spatial thinkers vs. people that respond better to visual stimuli. It opens up a limitless horizon of possibilities.
It makes me wonder what it would be like to write a 10 page paper by just thinking about it. Maybe they can get this thing up and running by, say, mid-December...?
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