• Holly Taylor, Tufts University
• Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 6:30
• At Constant Contact, 1601 Trapelo Rd, Waltham, MA
• Please register. It helps us and our hosts plan.

Abstract

Navigational aids have become ubiquitous, appearing as standard features in cars and on smart phones. How might this navigational technology affect how people learn about and find their way within an environment? Many have heard the extreme cases of people blindly following a GPS and meeting with disaster. Although such extreme cases occur, this talk will focus instead on how navigational technology may affect how we build mental maps more generally. Additionally, it will discuss potential ways that navigational technology might promote, rather than deflect, mental map development.

Continue reading Navigating with Technology →

Ting Shih, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ClickMedix Tuesday, April 12, 2016, 6:30 PM At IBM Research Cambridge, 1 Rogers Street, Cambridge, MA

Abstract

Not all doctors are the same, and not all patients are the same. So how do you design healthcare delivery tools that can be used by doctors and patients alike?

ClickMedix took on the challenge of designing for global health to improve the lives of over 1 billion people using mobile phones in 2007. While the idea started at MIT, the real discovery happened when founder Ting Shih went to test the idea of using mobile phones to deliver health care in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is a lack of doctors, treatments, and over whelming number of patients. To date, ClickMedix has been deployed in 16 countries, in multiple languages and addresses a variety of disease from HIV/AIDS to diabetes. The solution consists of tools for doctors, nurses, health workers, and patients, all “personalized” to the needs of each user. During this session, Ting will share her journey and discovery for designing mobile-phone enabled solutions to deliver personalized care so that each patient can live better, healthier, and happier.

Continue reading Designing for Global Health by Personalizing Care Delivery →

• Susan Mercer, Experience Research Director, Mad*Pow
• Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 6:30pm
• At Constant Contact, 1601 Trapelo Rd, Waltham, MA 02451

Abstract

User interviews are a great technique for getting to know your target audience. However, sometimes people don’t feel comfortable answering a researcher’s questions with complete honesty. Other times they may not know exactly how to articulate what they need, want, or feel.

We will examine findings from psychology and market research to understand techniques for interviews to help you uncover insights beyond people’s surficial answers. We’ll explore conversation theory, projective techniques such as image associations, collaging, sentence completion, and others to uncover hidden, actionable insights to fuel your designs. Continue reading Diving Deep: Uncovering Hidden Insights through User Interviews →