This Week in EID - Episode 62

I think this was a particularly good week on EID. Here is why:

The research the Thursday article on on-line trolling was based on was really fascinating.  It had some great insights that I think are just as applicable to any kind of behavioral influence.  Parents getting their kids to behave in one way or another comes to mind.  The techniques to reduce online trolling can also reduce any kind of bad behavior.

The Wednesday article is a great example of thinking. I read an article where the author told a story and then proposed a possible reason the story came out the way it did.  Rather than accept the author’s explanation as gospel, I came up with my own. Not because I am a contrarian, but because:

·         Thinking about the story is why I read in the first place.

·         The process of coming up with an alternative is how you learn and grow your knowledge.

·         Posting the idea on EID gives me a chance to test my idea.

The Tuesday article on perceived intelligence has two great uses. 

·         If we discover what kinds of things unconsciously increase perceived intelligence, we can get some good insights into the origins of human nature.  Many of these unconscious assumptions and primes are generalizable to many other situations and contexts.

·         If you want to be perceived as more intelligent, you can exploit these unconscious assumptions.  It is much cheaper and easier than a college degree J.

The Monday article was a topic that I didn’t cross post very much because it is a very sensitive topic. I think my solution concept has some potential, but the situation I described is kind of sad. Anyway, you can read it and let me know what you think.

Frustration and Delight

Are user frustration and user delight two sides of one dimension? Or two different dimensions?

I think they are two different unipolar dimensions:
 
Not frustrated    ------------------------------------  Frustrated

Not delighted   -------------------------------------   Delighted


But Jared thinks it is one bi-polar dimension:

frustrated ----------------------------  neutral  --------------------  delighted


Are they different experiences?  Can you be both at the same time?  For example an interface can have some features that evoke delight (cool new functionality) and some that evoke frustration (long navigation paths) and my emotion will go back and forth.  Maybe?

What do you think?

The gaps that matter

I heard this story on NPR this morning about Rapid Rehousing programs.  They seem like a good part of solution, but definitely not enough.  The story says as much.

The idea behind rapid rehousing is pretty simple.  They structure housing assistance with the idea to get you standing on your own as soon as possible.  This is important for the low-income recipient because it provides incentives to succeed during the program and freedom of movement after.  Along with housing during the program of course. 

The problem is that they are not sustainable because they don’t solve the underlying structural problems that got the person into that situation in the first place.  The income gap, the wealth gap, the education gap, and the stability gap.  It is this last one I want to mention today.

I have mentioned the marshmallow test many times and I am sure you are all familiar with it (if not, it is here or a great YouTube version).  I have also posted about the follow-up to that which investigated household stability and how that is a strong predictor of the self-control that kids of all ages need to stop themselves from eating the initial marshmallow.  It makes sense too – if you grow up in a household where expectations and promises often go unfulfilled, you are smart to take the marshmallow in hand rather than to risk waiting for a second marshmallow that may never come.

I was particularly struck by this quote, which really resonated with me personally.

“As many families do, she went to live with a parent, but that didn't work out. So she moved into a homeless shelter for a year . . .”

I can’t imagine any circumstances that I could ever find myself in where my parents, brothers, even aunts, uncles and cousins, would let something come between us that forces me to pick a homeless shelter over staying with them.   

I realize that I am blessed with a tight and loving family despite our many dysfunctions.  It is not just my socio-economic and demographic status.  But still. 

This Week in EID - Episode 61

There was a strong focus in EID this week on practical solutions. 

Monday shared the idea of Timeful, which is a calendar app that helps you squeeze in the activities you never have time for.  We could all use a little more of that.

Tuesday presented the concept of the motivational affordance.  Are there aspects of a design that you can intentionally craft so that users are motivated to use it?  Classic models show that intrinsic motivation is a function of perceived control, autonomy, and social relatedness.  Extrinsic motivation is a function of value, salience, and emotion.  Can we integrate these into design?

Wednesday was a little more a depressing topic, sharing Joshua Rotman’s ideas for why we are so distracted today.  I am a constant distraction sufferer, so his ideas are particularly relevant to me. And I am hoping to get enough good suggestions in the comments for how to overcome it.

Then finally, Thursday’s article shares some ideas about creativity and even some ideas for how to teach it.  Another good example of something we could all use a little more of.