Archive for the ‘HCI’ Category
UX Updates: What’s going on (Writing Workshop, Flash Games and a Conference!)
Just a short update this week, as it’s been a busy few weeks of exams, travel and more. So, a few things to look out for:
I’m going to the “UX Writing Workshop” by Cennydd Bowles and Martin Belam in two weeks. The workshop promises to give tips on how to improve my blog writing skills. So, expect this blog to be much more compelling and readable from then on!
Also, when I manage to get the pre-loader working, I’ll be able to share the flash game I’ve been working on. Hopefully next week if I find the time!
Lastly, I’m excited to share that myself and Pejman Mirza-Babaei will be presenting our paper “Playing to Win?” at the Multi.player conference. We’re on on the Friday, and will be covering the links between social interaction and biometric responses in co-located gaming (i.e. shouting at your friends during Mario Kart!). I’ll update with more information soon.
Heres a picture of a duck. Its nose is a dog:
Quack
Have a great week all!
The Reflective Practitioner in User Centred Design
The reflective practitioner, as described by Schon in his 1983 book, is the idea of continually reflecting on your work and the process during the design or production of a system. By continually reviewing, and improving the manner in which you work, and the deliverables, the process can be continually refined and improved, leading to better products. This fits in well with the philosophy behind the Agile design methodology, since this also requires a dedication towards continued reflection and iteration (also, Jazz music). But how does it work with User Centred Design? Click to continue…
A Celebration of Ludic Interfaces
Where traditionally people try to design technology with goals such as efficiency, accuracy, and ease-of-use, ludic interfaces instead aim to prioritise a different set of ideals, such as play, user-generated content, and co-operation. Ludic interfaces are typically low-cost and aim to encourage playfulness (as you can see from the name’s origins in the word ‘ludicrous’).
They remind me of the ‘impossible things’ found in Don Norman’s ‘The Design of Everyday Things’, including the teapot with a spout over its handle, and a bicycle which pedals in both directions simultaneously. However, unlike those items, these ludic interfaces perform a function.
The impossible teapot
Today we’ll look at examples of Ludic Design, and what this means for including users in design. Click to continue…
Dark Pattern – RedSave & Chairman Mao
Harry Brignull has introduced the idea of Dark Patterns – website’s using UX principles to promote business goals over the end-user’s experience. When shopping online for a replacement watch, I stumbled upon a particularly nasty one. I thought I’d share:
Let’s start with some back-story. While in Hong Kong recently, I found the most amazing watch I could possibly imagine. It’s Chairman Mao, and it waves with each second. I had to have it, and bought it straight away from the local market.
Hi There!
Natural Language Programming – Can players become designers?
It has been identified that an issue preventing user’s from fully understanding, and taking design decisions in the development of technology projects is the lack of ability of typical users to create code themselves, and articulate their ideas fully.
To truly engage a user as a design partner, it therefore seems useful to make programming accessible to them. This is the goal of natural language programming, which is my focus for today.
not that sort of NLP!
