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1. what did you find (articulate the answers in your own words) 1.1. interesting about the article? Most people were interested in the idea of using computers as distinct appliances (each built to perform a specific task) rather than the one-size-fits-all concept of current personal computers. Theoretically, this would make computers easier to use, much like common appliances. Several people also touched Burton's story of drawing computers. "...It’s true that we don’t really think about the “waternet.” We don’t “use the indoor plumbing” the way we “use the internet,” we just wash our hands or flush a toilet..." - magill 1.2. not interesting about the article? A large majority of the class really enjoyed this article and had little to state against it. However, a few people mentioned dissatisfaction with uninteresting (or even inaccurate) examples. Adam used this section to point out one poor analogy Burton used: "The radio market is rather cutthroat, you would never have one radio station advertising for another, but once again this is precisely what happens via Internet links. One website latches onto the ideas of another and provides a link to that other website. Many websites are even dedicated to simply providing links to other interesting websites...." - torgerson 2. what do you consider the main message of the article? Everyone said in one way or another that the main message of this article was that computer design needs to be changed from technology-centric to human-centric. Computers need to move away from the idea of one-size-fits-all to more specialized components. "...Buxton is trying to convey the need for a change in the way technology is designed from the technically-capable view to a more human-centric one. By stressing a “think outside of the box” approach, he presents suggestions on how the design of technology should be attuned to human-capability versus system functionality..." - kiefer 3. Please comment on the following claim: “Despite the increasing reliance on technology in our society, in my view, the key to designing a different future is to focus less on technology and engineering, and far more on the humanities and the design arts.” 3.1. agree / disagree? A majority of the class was split on this, while a few others agreed but with reservations. "I would agree. However, I believe that society deal with technology, especially new technology, in a cycle where we get really excited by technology for its own sake, then assess whether is it really useful to us, then incorporate it into our own lives (where they become invisible). I would argue that with respect to information technology we are in the early stages of infatuation and we are just beginning to assess how and in what form it would be useful to us." - phong 3.2. which are the personal consequences which you draw from this statement? Here, many students argued for a middle-ground between technology and design. Most were apprehensive to completely switch focus from technology to design, claiming that, of the failures of computers in terms of usability, this does not justify a complete shift in focus. "...I think we need to concentrate on technology as well as design at this point. I do agree that we have more technology than design but not enough to say well we can now stop worrying about technology and start concentrating on design. I do agree that we need to work on design as in the essay it showed that our image of a computer has not changed from 1980's machine..." - DivyaAshok 3.3. are the educational programs you are involved addressing this claim? 4. Please comment on the following claim: “Given the much discussed constraints on human ability, how can we expect an individual to maintain the requisite specialist knowledge in their technological discipline, while at the same time have the needed competence in industrial design, sociology, anthropology, psychology, etc., which this essay implies are required to do one’s job?” 4.1. agree / disagree? 4.2. which are the personal consequences which you draw from this statement? 4.3. are the educational programs you are involved addressing this claim? 5. Do you feel that the “Design, Learning, and Collaboration” course addresses these two claims?
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