Bryanna Homeier-Alpha Project

Bryanna Homeier - Proposal

Bryanna_7_I

The book mentioned one of the drawbacks of customization being that users have to enter in information they may not want everyone to know.  Privacy concerns are growing larger, especially with recent events like Facebook trying to say they'll own all data you enter into their site, even if you delete your profile later.  I think when you create a device that allows information based customization, you need to make sure the users' privacy rights are protected

Bryanna_5_I

I think that planning in interaction design is much like planning in any other discipline.  A lot of times, when I'm writing a paper for an English class, I just kind of dive into it, without planning.  This works for me, but a lot of people cannot put cohesive thoughts together without first making a detailed plan and outline.  The same goes for design work.  Some people find it easier to just start messing around in the software and work out the kinks from there, where other people need to put what they have in their head down onto paper.  In my opinion, it just depends upon the kind of person you are.  

Bryanna_4_I

The Saffer book provides a lot of insight into the process of interaction design research, but I think that when it comes down to selecting an actual method to use, you have to find what you are most comfortable with, and what works for you.  This may include inventing a new method not listed in the book, or tweaking one of the mentioned ideas to your liking.  I think that if the designer is not comfortable with the method, then the end result desired may not be produced.

Bryanna_3_I

After reading this chapter, I feel like I have a greater respect for interaction designers. I never realized how much work, planning, and thought went into the little things that we (as users) take for granted every day. Every button click on a simple online application has to be carefully thought out, and all possibilities must be considered. I think that all forms of design are under appreciated and we, as future designers, need to take more time to think about all of the little things that would go haywire in our everyday online applications, had it not been for the work of great designers.

Bryanna_2_I

The author of the book comments that using a system based design may be seen as "too robotic" by some designers. I actually thought that a system design would be the least robotic, because it takes into account all of the components of the design, rather than emphasizing the individual aspects. Gestalt said, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" and I think this is especially applicable to interaction design. The system design not only takes into account the requirements of goals of the system or interface, but the goals of the users, and the goals of the designers. If one of these parts is not working in tune with the others, than the whole system fails. In this respect, I feel like system design would be the most complicated to work with just starting out, but I think that it would be the best way to achieve a goal that is pleasing for all parties involved.

Bryanna_1_I

Interaction design has done a lot of great things for humans living in the 21st century. Everything is easier for us. We can interact with money without ever touching a dollar bill by using online banking and bill paying. We can solve our technical problems through a chat room instead of a phone call where we might have to wait for an hour listening to elevator style Neil Diamond music. Interaction design has created an easy way for us to stay in touch with old friends via Facebook, email, Livejournal, etc. However, I think it's important to note the negative results of the mass influx of interaction design in our lives. Because of interaction design, people have less contact with actual people and more contact with machines. Yes, they are still communicating with people via technology, but I think there is a stark difference between face to face interaction and interaction with a person through wires and electricity. Despite our increasing ability to communicate with hundreds of people at once, we are becoming more solitary. I know a girl who sits in her living room and talks to her boyfriend, on the other side of the room, on AIM, rather than actually speaking to him. What is that?! It's possible for a person to get everything they need through the internet and the phone, without ever leaving their house or seeing anyone other than the delivery person.

However, on the flip side, I think one of the great effects of interaction design is the ease of information access. An example of this is the ability to read about the every day life of someone on the other side of the world, or read news stories from a paper in India. This increases cultural sensitivity and promotes tolerance and understanding. Obviously, there are a great number of positive effects of interaction design, but I think it's important to take note of the negative effects on society as well.