Designing for interaction
Dan Saffer (2007)
Chapter 1, 3 and 9
The author emphasize that the first computers were engineered, not designed. Humans had to adapt in using them not vice versa. 1960's saw a focus change from computers to software, during the same period as ergonomics and cognitive psychology pushed forward and covered new usable findings. More consideration to the user was taken and has evolved more and more up to our time. The author predicts, as many of us, significant changes over next two, three decades in interaction design. Interaction designers will take big part in how digital devices are developed.
The author predicts that 'ubiquitos computing' (or ubicomp) will take place in the future. As microprocessors and sensors become cheaper and more powerful, computers will be embedded in all the products we buy. These ubicomp systems will be everywhere we go e.g. from the mirror in the morning to to the bus seat going to work to meeting room in office that sense the prescence of each person in the room and adjust accordingly. The author predicts that these ubicomp systems will interact with each other and know what the person needs and wants in different situations. For example the room would know your mood and play music accordingly. This future isn't at all impossible. With regard to how mankind has developed their surroundings making it more comfortable through this century this future is very possible. The question is merely about how these systems will be designed. What the author is forgetting, when predicting how these systems will be designed, is two folded - firstly peoples need for integrity. All people don't want their whole life displayed in various surroundings. Getting on the bus and receiving offers with regard to personal data can be a real intrusion on the private life. Secondly the humans mind is unpredictable, and we know mood changes, taste changes as well as peoples goals differ from one time to the other. With a unicomb system that lets the 'computers' interact with each other without the peoples input would not take the peoples true need into account and often be somewhat close to the needs but yet so far away. It's important for people to be able to interact consciously with digital devices in order to not becoming slaves to preconceived thoughts held by the ubiquitos computers about each person.
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Very intresting and futuristic. I also beleive that we will have many more sensors and screens in the future. I guess it could save resources in many cases, lowering temperatures, turning off light, beeping if the water drips or whatever. This is a good thing. But as you mentioned integrity is important as we are unpredictable. It's important with a turn off buttom. And I don't think very many want the computer to decide which music to play I understand that the technology makes it possible, but is it desired? Since this technology is intrusive it's good if we can put the human being in the center of the development.
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