This is episode 100 of our Human Tech podcast! We talk about how deep learning/AI might be different if machines learned via audio. And we talk a little bit about our current “Covid” world.
Userlytics User Testing Tool Helped Us Get Through a Difficult Semester
I teach courses in user experience as an Adjunct Professor at a campus of University of Wisconsin (the campus in Stevens Point Wisconsin). Like campuses around the world we are shut down because of the Covid pandemic. We’re teaching remotely on Zoom and students are trying to finish their coursework while sheltering at home.
I’m used to working remotely and teaching remotely, but it doesn’t mean that students are used to learning this way.
I’m teaching a class this semester “Evaluating User Interfaces”. The class has been learning about heuristic evaluations, cognitive walkthroughs, and user testing. When the campus closed down we were in the middle of our unit on user testing. The students tried out conducing in person user tests first (using Zoom and doing the tests remotely for the most part).
Then they used Userlytics to run unmoderated tests. Userlytics arranged for the students in the class to have credits so that each student could run 3 tests. For most of the students this was their first experience at planning, conducting, and analyzing unmoderated remote tests.
Because they are all sheltering in place this was especially important to them. It allowed them to continue learning and to do their project even while staying at home.
So a big THANK YOU to Userlytics for providing this opportunity.
2nd Edition of 100 Things Book
When I wrote 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People I, of course, hoped people would like it (every author wants to be a “best seller”!). It has turned out to be even more popular than I had thought and hoped, and I am very grateful to all the readers who have read it and who have reached out to me about it since it was first published.
Over the last few months I’ve been working on a 2nd edition. I wanted to update some of the research and include some new ideas. So I’m happy to say that I’ve finished the 2nd edition and sent it off to the publisher for printing. The official date it will be available is June 30 (2020) but it is available for pre-order now at Amazon.
My publisher has also given me a promo code for 35% off if you pre-order it through their outlet. (good through June 30). The code is 100THINGS.
If your copy is dog-eared and you want a new one, or if you want to buy one for a friend or recommend it to others, try the 2nd edition.
Grant Crowell on the Human Tech Podcast
In this episode of the Human Tech podcast we talk with Grant Crowell about communicating, using humor, marketing and about his new book.
You can reach Grant here:
info@onetwistedsquirrel and check out his instragram: onetwistedsquirrel.
And here’s a link to the book: GRANTASMS: Creative twisted words for cool people!
What About User Experience in Government Policy?
In this episode of the Human Tech podcast we talk with Dana Chisnell about the role of user experience in government technology and public policy. Dana just started a new job as a partner/founder, Policy Design, with the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC). Can the government be user-centered? (Hint: Dana is an optimist and says “YES”).
To learn more about or get in touch with Dana, her website is danachisnell.com and her email is dana.chisnell@gmail.com
Our Digital Lives After Death
In this episode of the Human Tech podcast we talk with Elaine Kasket, author of All the Ghosts in the Machine about our digital lives after we die. Who owns our data and what happens to it after we’re gone?
To learn more about Elaine and the book:
You can reach her at write@elainekasket.com
UX Research for Conversational AI
In this episode of the Human Tech podcast we talk with Cheenu Chari, a UX Researcher from Austin Texas. We talk about how doing UX research on conversations differs from UX research on other interfaces, and even range into questions about whether people want one omnipotent chatbot to talk to or several specialized chatbots.
For more information, here is some info on where to reach and follow Cheenu:
LinkedIn: Srikant (‘Cheenu’) Chari
Twitter: @minstrelman91
Instagram: @cheenu.chari
Medium: https://medium.com/@minstrelman91
And here is a link to the the Medium article he mentions in the episode: “Scripts And Schemas and how they apply to Conversational Design”: https://chatbotslife.com/the-scripted-life-what-scripts-and-schemas-can-teach-us-about-designing-conversational-832e21cf2c7d
Writing Is Designing
In this episode of the Human Tech podcast we talk with Michael Metts and Andy Welfle about their new book: Writing Is Designing. The conversation includes:
- Why and how words and writing are part of the user experience of a product
- The difference between tone and voice
- Ideas for influencing design as a member of a design team
and lots more.
You can find more information about Andy and Michael and order the book from their website:
https://www.writingisdesigning.com/