Comments on: Using patterns to shape our world http://www.ruthstalkerfirth.com/using-patterns-to-shape-our-world docteur es sciences techniques (EPFL) Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:38:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Ruth Stalker-Firth » Blog Archive » User motivation: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs http://www.ruthstalkerfirth.com/using-patterns-to-shape-our-world#comment-5507 Ruth Stalker-Firth » Blog Archive » User motivation: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:54:46 +0000 http://www.ruthstalkerfirth.com/using-patterns-to-shape-our-world#comment-5507 [...] are individuals with a common set of motivations, defined by needs, and shaped by cultural patterns. Users are conditioned from birth and according to Joseph Campbell certain patterns are hardwired [...] [...] are individuals with a common set of motivations, defined by needs, and shaped by cultural patterns. Users are conditioned from birth and according to Joseph Campbell certain patterns are hardwired [...]

]]> By: Ruth Stalker-Firth » Blog Archive » Cognitive Science: What makes your users tick http://www.ruthstalkerfirth.com/using-patterns-to-shape-our-world#comment-5477 Ruth Stalker-Firth » Blog Archive » Cognitive Science: What makes your users tick Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:24:42 +0000 http://www.ruthstalkerfirth.com/using-patterns-to-shape-our-world#comment-5477 [...] graphical representations allows them to find and understand patterns on many levels. We look for patterns to make sense of the world. We interpret everything from the weather to the stories mankind has [...] [...] graphical representations allows them to find and understand patterns on many levels. We look for patterns to make sense of the world. We interpret everything from the weather to the stories mankind has [...]

]]> By: Ruth Stalker-Firth » Blog Archive » Semiotics: It’s a sign! http://www.ruthstalkerfirth.com/using-patterns-to-shape-our-world#comment-186 Ruth Stalker-Firth » Blog Archive » Semiotics: It’s a sign! Thu, 24 May 2007 17:59:46 +0000 http://www.ruthstalkerfirth.com/using-patterns-to-shape-our-world#comment-186 [...] In contrast, the symbols software engineers use, from data flow diagrams to UML stickmen, have been, in part, absorbed by anyone who uses computers, not just the experts. We are very good at creating and interpreting patterns in order to communicate the essence of a solution or something meaningful to us, so even if we are not trained in a field we can recognise symbols easily. [...] [...] In contrast, the symbols software engineers use, from data flow diagrams to UML stickmen, have been, in part, absorbed by anyone who uses computers, not just the experts. We are very good at creating and interpreting patterns in order to communicate the essence of a solution or something meaningful to us, so even if we are not trained in a field we can recognise symbols easily. [...]

]]> By: Ruth Stalker-Firth » Blog Archive » Design using function, behaviour, structure http://www.ruthstalkerfirth.com/using-patterns-to-shape-our-world#comment-10 Ruth Stalker-Firth » Blog Archive » Design using function, behaviour, structure Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:27:47 +0000 http://www.ruthstalkerfirth.com/using-patterns-to-shape-our-world#comment-10 [...] Today, Rievaulx is a tourist attraction, which is occasionally used as a place of worship and the change in its functionality is reflected in the pathways around it. They can be described as paths of desire, which have come about because visitors wander across the grass or clamber over a wall to get to a specific part of the abbey instead of walking about retracing the routes the Cistercians may have used, which would give visitors a better insight into the way the abbey and its inhabitants behaved. [...] [...] Today, Rievaulx is a tourist attraction, which is occasionally used as a place of worship and the change in its functionality is reflected in the pathways around it. They can be described as paths of desire, which have come about because visitors wander across the grass or clamber over a wall to get to a specific part of the abbey instead of walking about retracing the routes the Cistercians may have used, which would give visitors a better insight into the way the abbey and its inhabitants behaved. [...]

]]> By: Cris http://www.ruthstalkerfirth.com/using-patterns-to-shape-our-world#comment-7 Cris Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:12:03 +0000 http://www.ruthstalkerfirth.com/using-patterns-to-shape-our-world#comment-7 Erich Gamma is indeed an inspirational person. I had the honor to talk with him at ECOOP 2006. One of the coolest analogies about software design I ever read is re-explained here (couldn't find the original reference that was more interesting): http://whistlethroughyourcomb.blogspot.com/search/label/Creativity "1. Make as much as you can modular. When people design public parks or college quads, they sometimes purposely leave out sidewalks or brick paths from the design. So the areas are created without any sidewalks. Over time, people will tread the ground – often the same ground over and over again. A month or two down the road you can see wear the grass is worn. These are called paths of desire – they represent where people want to and do walk in the park or college quad. The designer notes these and then builds the sidewalks or brick paths over them." It would be very cool if we could do this with software design - unfortunately it's not so easy to see how the users tread when we don't put down a sidewalk - often a software isn't usable at all without the connections between points. Sometimes we can leave many paths, and observe what users do. This analogy illustrates that a (software) designer cannot see everything from the start, but that she must wait for the users to do what they do before making final decisions about the design. It's been said that Google and other similar companies observe this kind of "treading" before they make major decisions about software. Read more about it at http://www.manageability.org/blog/stuff/google-development-practice-lean-production It's always a pleasure to read your stimulating blog posts (when I find the time). Erich Gamma is indeed an inspirational person. I had the honor to talk with him at ECOOP 2006.

One of the coolest analogies about software design I ever read is re-explained here (couldn’t find the original reference that was more interesting):

http://whistlethroughyourcomb.blogspot.com/search/label/Creativity

“1. Make as much as you can modular.
When people design public parks or college quads, they sometimes purposely leave out sidewalks or brick paths from the design. So the areas are created without any sidewalks. Over time, people will tread the ground – often the same ground over and over again. A month or two down the road you can see wear the grass is worn. These are called paths of desire – they represent where people want to and do walk in the park or college quad. The designer notes these and then builds the sidewalks or brick paths over them.”

It would be very cool if we could do this with software design - unfortunately it’s not so easy to see how the users tread when we don’t put down a sidewalk - often a software isn’t usable at all without the connections between points. Sometimes we can leave many paths, and observe what users do.

This analogy illustrates that a (software) designer cannot see everything from the start, but that she must wait for the users to do what they do before making final decisions about the design. It’s been said that Google and other similar companies observe this kind of “treading” before they make major decisions about software. Read more about it at http://www.manageability.org/blog/stuff/google-development-practice-lean-production

It’s always a pleasure to read your stimulating blog posts (when I find the time).

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