DIG2500c: Fundamentals of Interactive Design

Fall 2009 Semester

Dr. Rudy McDaniel

Lecture 3: Think

Review

Last week We discussed speaking in interactivity We looked at POV▪ Human v. Computer

We calculated asset sizes Questions?

This Week

We’re focusing on the aspects of interactivity from the technical point of view

Recall the Crawford definition is the cycle of SPEAKING THINKING LISTENING

Thinking (From the Human’s POV)

How do humans think? Humans process patterns We are designed to see patterns even

when they may not exist If the pattern doesn’t complete humans

become “dissonant” Good interactive designers take patterns

into account when developing interactions

An Unusual Argument

I’m going to present you with an unusual argument made by a cognitive scientist named Daniel Willingham.

The argument is simple: we, as humans, are not very good at thinking.

If this is the case, how have we been so productive in our lives and as a society?

Are We Good at Thinking?

Source: Willingham, D.T. (2009), Why Don’t Students Like School?

What Does This Problem Tell Us?

Thinking is slow

Thinking is effortful

Thinking is uncertain

Is Stress Useful for Thinking?

Another Classic Problem (3 Disc)

Animated Solution (4 Discs)

Source: Wikipedia.

How About a Word Problem?

Combining Information

We can use Willingham’s (2009) definition of thinking as “combining information in new ways.”

Thinking (From the Machine’s POV)

How do machines think? Process bits of data with the three primary

operators AND, OR, NOT All machine thought is defined by

combinations of these three Large numbers of them must be placed

together to make anything humans would consider useful.

You ever play with Legos? Takes a lot of bricks to make something

doesn’t it?

Verisimilitude

What does this word mean, and why do we care?

Designing Computer Thought

There are two major approaches to designing computer thought Top-down Approach Bottom-up Approach

Top-Down Approach

This approach consist of: Starting with the broadest statement of

the objectives Breaking the objective into smaller

chunks Breaking the smaller chunks into smaller

chunks Continuing to break the smaller chunks

down until the implementation becomes obvious

In top-down design, we start with the questions.

Bottom-Up Approach

This approach consists of: Starting with capabilities, resources, and

tasks Build components combining the parts

that are useful Work upwards toward a general

objective This can be conceptualized as

“starting with the answers.”

Let’s design something

I want a new system that distributes news to people in real-time as it happens

What do we need to make this happen? Use the top-down approach▪ Goals driven

Use the bottom-up approach▪ Resources driven

The reality: interactive design flickers continuously back and forth between top-down and bottom-up design.

Compromise

Both approaches have their merits They assist us in finding and resolving

complexities prior to writing code or developing assets

They keep designers from designing something that cannot be developed

Always try to THINK before you speak Your designs will be better and more

robust Both the humans and computers will

thank you

Translating Human Thought

Regardless of approach we need to be able to describe what we are doing General descriptions are reasonable for

humans because we’ll see the patterns and fill in the gaps

Computers need more structured specifics because they don’t

These descriptions are called algorithms

Algorithm?

An algorithm is a procedure or formula for solving a problem.

The more complex the system you are attempting to achieve the more complex the algorithm can be. A computer program can be viewed as an

elaborate algorithm. Modern applications can have millions of

lines of code generated by hundreds of developers

Crawford’s View

Listening, Thinking, and Speaking must be an integrated whole.

If you can’t design the algorithms, go do something else.

What does this mean for us as interactive designers?

Technology Serves Art

But only for those willing to learn the technology.

Make a PB&J

Algorithms and Creativity How did Crawford

generate random numbers for his project as an undergrad?

Algorithms as Metaphors Here are some useful metaphors to

help you generate algorithms Spatial and geometric metaphor Physical metaphor Musical metaphor Business and Economic metaphor Emotional metaphor Bureaucratic metaphor

Spatial and Geometric Metaphor Spatial and geometric metaphor

Distance Relationships between objects Shapes Arrangement

Physical Metaphor

Physical metaphor Borrowing concepts from Physics or

Chemistry▪ Springs▪ Catalysts▪ Magnetism▪ Mixtures▪ Weight

Musical Metaphor

Musical metaphor Harmonics Melodies Chords Scales

Business and Economic Metaphor Business and Economic metaphor

Cost/ Price Buy/Sell Put/Call Supply/Demand

Emotional Metaphor

Emotional metaphor Happy / sad / angry Sleepy / tired Hyperactive Objective Defiant

Anthropomorphic Attributions to machines “They don’t get happy they don’t get

sad they just run programs.” – Short Circuit

Bureaucratic Metaphor

Bureaucratic metaphor Hierarchies Executives v. labor Social tasks Divisions of labor

Bureaucracies have proven themselves to solve complex problems

Class Exercise

In groups of two, come up with some original design metaphors for an application that allows very young children to learn art skills.

Report out

What You Thinkin’?

We can structure the thinking but what are we thinking about?

Data is needed for thoughts Data is necessary Algorithms are just the framework to

process thoughts Without data algorithms do not function Data is the fuel

Data is Structured

Data can be thought of as a spreadsheet or table Columns are the structure Rows are the records Cells are the data

Data can be stored Short term / Long term Accessing data is vital

Significances of Thinking

Thinking is where all the content lies Speaking and listening are important

resources Thinking is where the focus lies during

interactive design Technology can change but the

thinking if done properly can transcend obsolescence

To Review The actors think

The actors can be humans or computers Each think differently

Thinking in humans is difficult and we look for patterns and rely heavily on memory

Thinking from computers an be complex even though it is made up of simple operators Algorithms Data Structures

Thinking is the content of interactive design

This Week’s Lab

More Introduction to Flash Interface Tools, Panes, and Panels Drawing in Flash Working with the timeline▪ Frame by frame animation▪ Tweening

Sample Exam Question

What do we know about the way in which we as humans think?

A. We think slowly.B. Thinking requires a lot of effort.C. Thinking is uncertain.D. All of the above.E. A and B only.

Sample Exam Question

In Crawford’s mind, which is the most important part of interactive design?

A. ListeningB. ThinkingC. SpeakingD. All of the above are equal

Homework

See syllabus for readings

Your second lab is this Thursday with Adam Lenz.

Remember, lab 1 is due this Friday at 5pm. If you don’t finish by the Thursday of this week, you’re out of luck.