2008
February What's the problem?
Yipes, been more than a moment since I've been posting, hope you enjoyed last year's podcast and are ready for more goodness for the eight's. I've been television shopping, among other things so see some thoughts on Pathfinder's User Experience Design blog for some long-winded posts about blue and interaction and such.
Elizabeth had mentioned some research she heard on NPR about how schools are not adequately preparing students for the future by not letting them learn the art of defining problems. I think we are all aware of how problem solving works, but it is given short shrift that people can also define the problem, then solve it. I always found this to be the most natural way to handle things. Of course, some of that has to do with going to art school, where if you didn't define some problem you would be painting still lifes the whole time. In fact, this is where the school part is tricky, as teachers we are good at presenting students with problems and looking to solve and grade their successes and failures. In doing so are we removing the ability to recontextualize that is so vital to enjoying learning?
I think of those "inventor" movies where the dad is always thinking "What if it rains? Where do I put my newspaper?" and the kids all support and love that kind of thinking. I think it may be my own failing that I set up expectations of problems to my kids and get angry when they fail, or when they give up. Can I come up with ways to present open-ended situations and see how they solve it, or return to a problem they left behind? I can say that in my work it would not be half as enjoyable if I didn't get to figure out what the problem really is, and how the customer will identify and even help the process become solved. I think there are just as many people, also, that prefer having the problem presented and contribute the "solution". Considering this is the model they get the most practice in, I can see how it is a problem working with someone where the problem is "flexible".
January New Year's Resolution
For real: I will not say "the user" - I will say "the customer", kind of makes you think differently!
Also, I will spend too much time thinking about TV's