1976 Apes, Men and Language - Eugene Linden

link
thingsmagazine.net

.

When the user makes the difference

In the report’s first part the student authors introduce the term user-driven, its relation to other types of innovation and the diversity of the definitions. The history of user-driven innovation is also presented.

The report then continues with an overview of which companies in the Nordic countries have utilised knowledge of their users in developing new products and services, including a shortlist of success stories.[via www.experientia.com]

Michael Shermer: Why people believe strange things

link
www.ted.com

.

John Maeda: Simplicity patterns

more link
www.ted.com

.

Why designers can't understand their users

'Why are computers difficult to use? It is so easy to design a user-friendly computer' explains why computers are user-unfriendly and how to design user-friendly computers. First applied cognitive psychology is analysed. This science should know how to design user-friendly computers. A synthetic approach, including traditional ergonomic topics as character size and contrast is elaborated. The approach is tested on the design of ticket vending machines and dynamic train indicators. The results found are applied to a broad range of interfaces including computer interfaces. A comparison with other cognitve psychological approaches is used for a theoretical validation. Finally the approach is tested using the approach itselve. It is suggested not technicians, designers or managers are to blame for user-unfriendly designs but cognitive psychology.

more links
www.experientia.com
Leiden University

.

Dan Dennett: Can we know our own minds?

The last part is funny!

more link
www.ted.com

.

Fart girl on Vice

photo from Vice / THE HORSE'S ASS ISSUE

read full article here

Not many people would be willing to record their "fart" moment. However, this girl, Jacki, not only records them but also puts them on Youtube. That's really brave.
So next time, don't be afraid to do it in the public.

more links
peteuse - famous fart girl
Vice Magazine UK

Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert

or on TED,
TED.com

"psychological immune system"
A system of unconscious processes that help people change their view of the world, so that people can feel better about the world in which they find themselves.

I am more interested in this part of his point, about happiness and choice.
Ability of changing your mind is the friend of natural happiness,
but freedom to choice is the enemy of synthetic happiness.

Stumbling on Happiness
ISBN 978-1400077427
[via swissmiss]

more links
www.amazon.com

Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking

爆炸頭作者Malcolm Gladwell

作者的髮型很勁爆 但是書的重點不是在他的髮型
這本書主要在說相信直覺(first instinct)
人們對事情的第一個反應已經傳達了很多訊息
你相信分析一對夫妻15分鐘的對話可以測出未來離婚的可能性
正確率達90%?
還在用龜速閱讀
讀到有趣的研究在放上來

There is one chapter talking about John Gottman's research.
"If he (John Gottman) analyzes an hour of a husband and wife talking, he can predict with 95 percent accuracy whether that couple will still be married fifteen years later. If he watches a couple for fifteen minutes, his success rate is around 90 percent."

Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking
ISBN 978-0141014593

Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice

WHY MORE IS LESS? Barry Schwartz talks about the dark side of increasing choices.
之前在想畢業專題要做啥
看到Barry Schwartz的論點
真是開心 原來不是全是我的問題
我常常很難做決定 買個東西都要想個半天
每次跟alice吃飯她都很頭大
因為我無法決定要吃啥
花很多時間在搖擺不定
太多選擇反道成為一種生活上的阻力?

link MANIFESTO
book ISBN 978-0-06-000569-6
[thanks Carlo]