Having some struggle to color charts and graphs used in UI your designing? Using color palettes like Kuler is one thing, but we, UX practitioner, should be better than that. This article gives you a very quick and solid instruction based on human factors.
via PerceptualEdge
Hey hey, this Human Centered Design toolkit looks really slick and useful.
I think I should try it.
You can download this toolkit from here.
http://www.ideo.com/work/human-centered-design-toolkit
Additional note: Yes, this is MUST read for those who do ethnographic/anthropological qualitative research.
Thanks, IDEO and utilitarianthings!
“For years, businesses have used human-centered design to develop innovative solutions. Why not apply the same approach to overcome challenges in the nonprofit world?
The HCD Toolkit was designed specifically for NGOs and social enterprises that work with impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The free kit, available for download here, walks users through the human-centered design process and supports them in activities such as building listening skills, running workshops, and implementing ideas. The process has led to innovations such as the HeartStart defibrillator, CleanWell natural antibacterial products, and the Blood Donor System for the Red Cross—all of which have enhanced the lives of millions of people.”
It’s not the SF story, but what if all the cars in the world are completely automated? Anyway, watch this video.
Human Factors experts know that automation can help people, but too much automation can cause boredom, confusion, frustration, and ultimately accidents. However, what if your vehicle is completely automated? Well, all cars in the world are automated, the story would be much different, I guess. And fully automated car is actually in a practice phase already.
AI cars that they tested look really intelligent and stable. You will be surprised the fact that the technology is advanced this far.
For the all people who are looking for free lancer job in the future.
Pricing hourly seems much easier than flat rate pricing, but because you have to give clients a ballpark full-cost price upfront (the total hours you plan to work x hourly rate), you can end up in a very tough spot if you don’t have a firm grasp on how long it takes you to do things.
We, San Jose State University Human Factors and Ergonomics Society student chapter (Includes me!) proudly present you the video to explain what is Human Factors and Ergonomics to the people who is NOT working in HF/E related field. This may earn more acknowledgement of people about HF/E.
Great Job!
Overview:
Prototyping tools
Annotation tools
Design tools
Screen grab tools
Sitemapping tools
Usability testing tools
Remote usability tools
Usability reviewing tools
Analytic tools
Accessibility tools
Thanks ph cubed!
It is important mission for us, HF/E people, to tell people what is human factors and ergonomics for better safety and health. Here is some good presentations that are made by grad students of Human Factors and Ergonomics program in San Jose State University.
They are really good and I’m proud of the fact that they are my friends!
One good Microwave Usability
I have to admit it. I have no idea how to use this microwave.
But it does not mean this is a bad interface, it just means I do not use microwave so often.
To be fair, I can say this microwave seems to be designed by someone who knows usability design. This design is based on an assumption that the function user might access most often is adjusting/selecting values. Therefore, the designer put a big jog-dial on the center so that user can easily use it without confusion. Bunch of shortcut buttons are allocated around this jog-dial so that user can reach the buttons in shortest moving distance from main jog-dial.
However, some labelings are a little bit vague despite the fact that it can be said the designer basically did it right in his/her wordings. One thing I was confused was that I could not figure out whether I should have selected “Speedcook” or “Micro Express” when I wanted to heat my food up quickly. But overall, wordings are properly telling you what they are (I like the label “Turn to Select - Push to Enter”).
Since I have been suffered by confusing microwave interfaces (There are usually so many buttons that are NOT telling you when and how I should use them), I really liked this ergo-microwave.
But I have no idea what does it look like to the people who ARE NOT GEEK.
How do you think?
A little bit of human factors problem of Russian truck
Some incredible truck accident in Russia.
Recently, the top edge of a truck struck the traffic sign and stucked with incredible angle as if it is missile launching sequence. A bulky looking top edge looks of a truck called “Spill guard” looks useless. But it is somewhat important to guard because cockpit ceiling is not durable enough to endure rocks or sands spilled from load carrying tray.
Probably this accident was happened because they forgot lowering load carrying tray. More importantly, this accident indicates that there is no fail-safe system or alarm to notify driver that he/she forgot lowering back tray when they start driving. I know most of American and Japanese dump truck has an alarm for it.
This accident looks somehow funny, but really in the way if a truck stuck up on the middle of road. Hope they would put some alarm on trucks after this accident.
Articles barely related to Ergonomics, Human Factors, User Interaction, or User Experience.
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