http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk By Dan Lockton Thu, 08 May 2008 08:20:34 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Continued from part 1 These are the suggested mechanisms applicable to User follows process or path, performing actions in a specified sequence - they fall roughly into three 'approaches'. In this post, I'm going to examine the System element approach. System element approach This approach includes mechanisms relating to the layout and properties ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/05/08/getting-someone-to-do-things-in-a-particular-order-part-2/ Very interesting discussion going on right now on the IxDA forums on designing for behavioural change - specifically with a sustainability emphasis - but unfortunately, Brunel University blocks the site (due to Websense), so I can only read/post via e-mail or at home (requests for unblocking "may take up to ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/05/02/ixda/ Photo by trancedmoogle. Back in January, I introduced the Design with Intent method on the blog. I've been developing this since then, and, suitably tested and refined, it should form the first stage of the PhD. Essentially, the DwI Method is intended to be a structured 'suggestion engine', where a target ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/05/01/getting-someone-to-do-things-in-a-particular-order-part-1/ Welsh couple cop Mosquito flak - The Register Discriminatory atmospherics (tags: mosquito discriminatoryatmospherics atmospherics soundweapon humanrights) Volvo gearchange indicator light Some Volvos were offered with an optional gearchange indicator, illuminating at the most efficient moment for the driver to change up a gear, based on engine RPM and throttle position. Good example of kairos. (tags: ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/05/01/links-for-2008-05-01/ Loughborough's Dr Debra Lilley, who has done extensive research into designing for behavioural change, has just launched an excellent new website, Design-Behaviour, which brings together her research findings and some great examples of behaviour-changing products from different fields to illustrate the approaches identified. The site is: [A] resource specifically developed to ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/04/30/design-behaviour-website-launched/ The Psychology of Security - Bruce Schneier Succinct analysis. The section on heuristics and biases affecting user decisions is particularly relevant to the Design with Intent research. (tags: schneier cognitivebias security risk heuristics) http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/04/26/links-for-2008-04-26/ Flickr: The Desire Paths Pool Google may be a database of intentions; 'desire paths' are the record of user intentions which in some way conflict with what the designers intended... (tags: desire paths desirepaths design architecture built environment inention intent) Brian Burns' presentation on 'Newness or Useness' ...whereas Carleton University's Brian Burns, in 'From ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/04/25/links-for-2008-04-25/ Design for Service Jeff Howard's Design for Service blog - some very clear perspectives on this increasingly important way of looking at much everyday interaction design (tags: architecturesofcontrol, design service servicedesign designwithintent interaction interactiondesign) Seth Godin: The world's worst toaster Understanding how people actually use your products ought to be pretty fundamental to the ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/04/23/links-for-2008-04-23/ You're owed an apology, dear reader, for the 2-month hiatus with the blog. It's down to a variety of reasons compounding each other, and alternately forcing me to prioritise other pressing problems, then when I tried seizing the initiative again, frustrating me with technical issues and actually preventing posting. You ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/04/22/apologies-for-the-dela/ I'm pleased to say that a paper I wrote earlier this year has been accepted by the International Journal of Sustainable Engineering, a new journal based at Loughborough University. The publishers (Taylor & Francis) allow authors to post a preprint* version online, so here it is. Making the user more ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/04/21/283/ The Mosquito anti-teenager sound device, which we've covered on this site a few times, was yesterday heavily criticised by the Children's Commissioner for England, Sir Albert Aynsley-Green, launching the BUZZ OFF campaign in conjunction with Liberty and the National Youth Agency: Makers and users of ultra-sonic dispersal devices are being ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/02/13/mosquito-controversy-goes-high-profile/ I'm pleased to say that I'll be presenting a short paper, Design With Intent: Persuasive Technology in a Wider Context* at Persuasive 2008, the 3rd International Conference on Persuasive Technology, taking place from June 4th-6th in Oulu, Finland. The paper's a (very) brief introductory review of some of the different ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/02/12/persuasive-2008/ Update: Also known as Useful Landmines in the 43 Folders world - thanks Pantufla! Mistake-proofing - poka-yoke - can be as simple as encouraging/forcing yourself to do things in a sequence, to avoid forgetting or avoiding intermediate steps. If you're the sort of person who hangs a jacket or bag on ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/02/12/home-made-instant-poka-yokes/ Simon Sellars, proprietor of the endlessly fascinating Ballardian, has organised a 'Festival of Home Movies', inviting mobile phone videos on the 'Ballardian' theme, including but not limited to "dystopian modernity, bleak man-made landscapes & the psychological effects of technological, social or environmental developments": In 1984 J.G. Ballard called for a ‘Festival ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/02/11/1st-ballardian-festival-of-home-movies/ Mac as a giant dongle At Coding Horror, Jeff Atwood makes an interesting point about Apple's lock-in business model: It's almost first party only-- about as close as you can get to a console platform and still call yourself a computer... when you buy a new Mac, you're buying a giant ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/02/11/digital-control-round-up-2/ Following on from our recent look at the strategic design of public benches, BBC London's Jimmy Tam let me know about this story in the Camden New Journal: A public bench has been removed from outside West Hampstead Library [photo from Pashmin@'s Flickr] after it became a magnet for street ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/02/09/it%e2%80%99s-a-weak-society-that-sees-removing-them-as-the-solution/ Security is about preventing adverse consequences from the intentional and unwarranted actions of others. What this definition basically means is that we want people to behave in a certain way... and security is a way of ensuring that they do so. Bruce Schneier, Beyond Fear A simpler way of thinking about Interaction ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/01/15/interesting-parallels/ This is a communal rubbish chute serving a block of flats. The cross-sectional area of the aperture revealed by opening the hatch should be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the chute itself, so there's less chance of rubbish bags getting stuck, even when someone crams one in. That aperture ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/01/08/chute-the-messenger/ Back in September we looked at Mentor Teaching Machines, a clever type of non-linear textbook from the early 1970s which guides/constrains the user's progression, in the process diagnosing some common types of misunderstanding and 'remedying' them. The comments were enlightening, too: there's a lot more history to programmed teaching texts ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/01/07/spears-spellmaster-poka-yoke-in-the-classroom/ Over at the brilliant Ballardian, editor Simon Sellars has just published my article 'J.G. Ballard & Architectures of Control', where I take a brief look at how Ballard's work repeatedly examines 'the effect of architecture on the individual' - something central to both the physical and psychological aspects of my ... http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/01/05/j-g-ballard-architectures-of-control/