"Some of the most revolutionary new ideas come from spotting something old to leave out,
rather than thinking of something new to put in."
We're feeling record-breaking heat in Northern California, and I just learned the perfect tip for the times: to cool down, run cold water over the insides of your wrists. I don't understand why this works so well, but it seems to cool my whole body within a few seconds.
I learned this from the novel The Nanny Diaries; the protagonist cools off this way. It's a strangely addictive book; it's a tragic, funny account of a long-suffering student working for vapid Park Avenue parents who think piles of money can substitute for a Mom and a Dad.
Some characters seem unrealistically shallow and stereotypical, but the authors (two former Manhattan nannies) manage to evoke real pity for New York's poor little rich kids. And that's a tall order.
The book depicts an entire class of people who convince one another to raise their children in an environment devoid of humanity. Is this why so many large corporations are headed by unhappy, destructive, cheesy automatons? Are they raised that way?
Thanks to my old pal Dave Danzig for recommending the novel. ( I love ya Dave, even though you're foolish enough to pay $120 for a haircut.)
Human Computer Interaction audio:
atc_bmw_ui_disaster.mp3 - 8 minutes, 19 Mb
Streaming RealAudio version here.
Here's a scathing review of BMW's iDrive system, the driver/car interface featured in their newest top-of-the-line automobiles. The press already skewered the arcane iDrive system in dozens of articles, but this one is a classic. You'll pity the hapless salesman who struggles to make the boneheaded car understand his most basic verbal commands, for a national radio audience.
Negative product reviews offer fantastic opportunities to educate people about the need for good human-centered design, but the HCI field is still almost unknown to most reporters and to the public. It's too bad that this NPR reporter didn't talk to any HCI professionals, because such discussions could have made for a much more thoughtful and encouraging piece. But that's our fault as HCI professionals -- we need to make the press aware of these issues.
From National Public Radio's All Things Considered, August 8, 2002
NPR description:
Complicated BMW
John Ydstie takes a ride in BMW's hottest new luxury car -- the 7 Series. It takes automotive computer power to a whole new level. Computer systems provide the car with BMW's most powerful engine, a silky smooth ride and what is supposed to be the simplest in-dash control system available. But what is created for the sake of simplicity can oftentimes create the most confusion.
(8:00)
Human Computer Interaction audio:
totn_future_of_computing.mp3 - 47 minutes, 11 Mb
Streaming RealAudio version here.
This Talk of the Nation segment focuses on innovation in human-computer interaction. Guests include the late Dr. Michael Dertouzos, a pioneer in the humanization of technology and former director of M.I.T.'s Laboratory for Computer Science.
Highlights include Dertouzos' inspiring plans to free people from the slavery imposed by their own tools. He describes MIT's Project Oxygen, a $50 million plan to make computers easier to use, and to transparently mold them into people's living environments.
From National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation: Science Friday, July 7, 2000
NPR description:
Did you ever wish that your computer adapted to your needs, rather than the other way around? Did you ever think "these computers would be so much better if only..."? Did you ever wish that computer makers thought more about usability than about flashy technology? In this hour, we'll look at efforts to improve the way people and computers interact.
Guests:
