Tag Archives: patterns

Experiencing embodiment

Last spring I began six rounds of chemotherapy which changed the relationship between me and my body forever. The chemo worked so well on the first round, it shut down my immune system and put me in hospital. Then each … Continue reading

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User motivation: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Last summer I found myself exploring an early Iron Age home at The Crannog Centre on Loch Tay. The Crannog was cosy, as its focal point was the Iron Age hearth – a large open fire. During the day the … Continue reading

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Cognitive Science: What makes your users tick

Like many usability consultants I have spent hours locked in rooms with strangers saying: “What do you think about this web page?” It is boring way to earn a living especially as you often know the answers and could tell … Continue reading

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Visualisation: Information is power – just avoid drowning in data

(The Great Fire of London map at the British Library website) In the 1530s when Henry VIII realised that dissolving the monastries would get him much needed assets, he commissioned a map of London, paying particular attention to ‘lawless’ Southwark. … Continue reading

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Semiotics: It’s a sign!

A structural engineer once told me that he would always win pictionary if he was teamed with another engineer. Structural engineers have a symbolic language of their own and use it, normally in the workplace, to communicate more accurately. To … Continue reading

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