06.29.2009
Elizabeth Mauer - Former Staffer /
Design Research /
Ergonomics /
User Research
Once upon a time, I convinced myself that I could learn to rip out my old floors and install new ones.
I grew up very traditionally where girls vacuumed (boring) and boys got to work with power tools (fun). So I never learned the ins and outs of what I generally call “being handy with tools.” I figured I could learn, though. Since they sell power tools to the general population at many home improvement stores, how hard can it be to use them? (Especially if the store’s motto is, “You can do it, we can help.”)
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06.26.2009
Rebecca Pezdek /
Consumer Products /
Design Inspiration /
Industrial Design
It’s been quite some time now that I’ve been following the development of outdoor solar lights. I have always been drawn to them because of the amazing fact that they are not only off the grid but also extremely low maintenance. I’ve been waiting eagerly for a company to take advantage of this technology and integrate it into a beautiful packaging. Then along comes the Soji Modern lanterns which have made a clear statement that solar doesn’t mean techy and it doesn’t mean cheap. Solar lighting can be just as soft and delicate as tealights and even more daring because there are no open flame restrictions to deal with. And this is just the tip of the iceberg of possibilities for solar products that are beautiful and inspiring. Let us know if you find more!
06.24.2009
Miranda Capra /
Human Factors /
Usability /
Usability Lab /
User Research
When we moved into our new building in 2008, I was part of the team that designed our usability lab. One-way mirrors were an essential part of the design of the rooms. However, when our UK Partner, Amberlight, redesigned their usability lab in 2008, they didn’t use any mirrors, and our German partner, UID, also has a usability lab without mirrors. Do you need a one-way mirror?
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06.22.2009
Andrew Wirtanen /
Consumer Products /
Green Technology /
New Technology /
Trends
There are two big cellphone trends right now: touchscreen smartphones and dirt-cheap Earth-friendly cell phones. Both of these trends are great; one is pushing the limits of the mobile experience and the other is encouraging responsible manufacturing practices. Both are appealing, but generally the Earth-friendly phones do not have as many features and their user interfaces look like they were designed in the 90s.
My new iPhone 3GS was delivered to the office Friday (June 19th) around lunchtime. It’s shiny, has an internal compass, voice commands, video recording, and is very fast. But, it’s not perfect. After all, it doesn’t have a solar panel on the back of it like the Samsung Crest E1107. And, it isn’t 100% recyclable and made of recycled water bottles like the Motorola Renew W233.
That’s not to say that Apple is ignoring environmental issues. The iPhone 3GS has smaller packaging and doesn’t contain chemicals like mercury, arsenic, PVC, and BFR. The major environmental flaw of the iPhone is that the user cannot replace the battery. By not having a user-replaceable battery in iPhones or iPods, Apple is encouraging them to be thrown in the trash. In response to this concern, Apple started their iPod recycling program (which works with iPhones too).
It’s only a matter of time before recyclable smartphones made of recycled material hit the market. If the next iPhone has a solar panel, I’ll be first in line.
06.19.2009
Sheila Crosby /
Interaction Design
One of the challenges we face with our clients is how to visualize large data sets. Today, NY Times published an interactive map capturing homicides in New York City from 2003 to 2009. Subject matter aside, this is a beautiful presentation of the information. The layout is clean, simple and easy to navigate. It encourages exploration by using the familiar Google way to navigate a map.
The reader gets the good news at a glance. Homicides in New York have dropped from 597 to 162. The presentation of the data enables the reader to sort by a variety of specific measurements, i.e. month of incident, information on both the victim and the perpetrator, age of the individuals involved, etc. The map features exactly where the homicide takes place, allowing the reader to see where large pockets of activity have taken place. The design enables the reader to dynamically update the map according to year and even offers the feature of entering in a specific zip code.
I learned a lot about a subject matter that I normally wouldn’t have spent a great deal of time researching. In a perfect world, this would be a map showing the reader where to buy chocolate.
06.18.2009
Sheila Crosby /
Consumer Products
Source: Red Envelope
What do you get for the man who has everything? Well, a popular online gift site has the answer. The beer holster is now available! (Note there is a limited quantity.) The site actually says that it keeps with the spirit of the Wild West, which means I guess you get to treat your beer like a gun? For a “quick draw whenever the need arises.” Yep, you’re supposed to treat your beer like a gun. I’m sure it’s just me, because this product has a 5-star rating.
Would anyone want to advertise their addiction by strapping it to a body part? Not to mention what message this sends to your friends and family. I can’t understand why it should cost $49.95 (not including shipping and handling) but the bigger question is…what happens when you sit down?
I think I’ll stick to a nice tie…maybe some cuff links…
06.18.2009
Matthew Stevens /
Design Inspiration
In the Editor’s Letter of this week’s New York Times Magazine, Gerald Marzorati talks about the magazine’s recent redesign of their print edition. At the end he writes, “don’t hesitate to e-mail us your review.” Why e-mail it when you can post it on your blog?
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06.18.2009
Corinna Proctor /
Trends /
Web & Software
I gave in and took a few peeks around Bing – I have to admit that their ads, although confusing, are interesting. I’ve personally never experienced “search overload” or people around me spewing out words like they are playing a frantic board game, but, hey, maybe I’m the minority.
In our project work we are consistently asked to provide human factors or design reviews for our clients. So today, for the fun of it, I decided to conduct my own 5-second comparison of Bing v Google.
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06.16.2009
Dan Mauney /
Mobile /
Trends
On Saturday (June 7), the Palm Pre was officially launched. And with it, another smartphone platform. We now have a very large number of smartphone OS platforms (Windows Mobile, iPhone, Symbian, Blackberry, Android, BREW, LiMo, Openmoko, Qt Extended, and now the Palm Pre’s Web OS). These platforms are backed by a virtual who’s who of technology companies, including Microsoft, Apple, Nokia, RIM, Google and Palm. Each wants to become the platform of choice for the mobile internet device market. However, they can’t all be that. There can only be one platform of choice, with perhaps a second or third strong competitor. The rest will be relegated to niche markets or discontinuation.
So, which one(s) will emerge? That will, of course, depend on many factors, but one of those factors that will play a significant role, if not a deciding role, is third-party developers. The promise of being “always connected” cannot be realized solely by built-in applications. The uses of the internet are too varied for any one company to enable. And third-party developers are too creative, quick to market, and resourceful for any one company to replicate. Third-party developers are going to enable some of the most compelling uses of “always connected” devices. However, they are often small companies, small groups within larger companies, or even individuals, and are unable to port their application to 6 or 7 different platforms. They must choose. And the platforms that they develop on are going to have capabilities that other platforms won’t. These platforms will have a decided advantage as this market matures.
06.15.2009
Brian Chiarizia /
Community Involvement
HumanCentric participated in the 2009 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for our 3rd year. Some ran competitively and some walked amongst the crowd of more than 24,000 participants, but all of us were in complete support of the cause.
The Komen NC Triangle Race for the Cure® is the largest foot-race in North Carolina, attracting more than 24,000 walkers, runners and spectators in 2008. Now in its 13th year, this event has raised more than $10 million to support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.
