Awhile back I agreed to guest blog for Light Rail Blogger. It would have something to do with my recent bicycle purchase. I spent awhile thinking about it, which probably looked like I was putting it off. A couple weeks ago it hit me. Why stray from what I know and what is constantly on my mind – user experiences.

I was ecstatic to learn that it not only received lots of views, but that the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) actually retweeted it. I couldn’t be more flattered that a design organization took notice.

The article focuses on the following:

So, what is meant by the user experience of bicycling? It can be as simple or as complicated as you’d like it to be. The experience starts at purchasing a bicycle; it can even include the common thoughts and perceptions society has on bicycles and their purpose. User experience deals with how a person feels riding their bicycle and the issues and pleasures they gain from the experience. It even deals with the interactions they have with other bicyclists, drivers, pedestrians, businesses and roads during their bicycle trips. This experience can sometimes be very intimate for the user.

The full article can be seen here:

http://lightrailblogger.com/2010/04/21/guest-blog-post-the-user-experience-of-bicycling/

So three months ago, I broke down and bought a macbook. It wasn’t an impulse decision as I had been threatening my dad that I was going to buy one as my next notebook for a year or so prior. However, it was impulsive in the way that the driving to the store to buy one did happen a little impulsively.

I can say that I’ve set up my airport, moved my files over, connected my hard drive and my printer and am not solely operating off of my mac. I haven’t completely set it up the way I’d like, but I haven’t touched my dell notebook in at least two months other than moving files off of it a month ago.

The more I use my macbook and tote it around with me, the more frustrated I am with my dell notebook at work. Usually I can’t pinpoint it other than it’s slower. Well that and I keep trying to zoom in and out of windows by pinching and expanding on my mousepad, which doesn’t fair so well on my dell.

I’m starting to wonder though why exactly I like it so much more than any pc I’ve ever owned. What about the user experience and usability is better? Is it the marketing getting to me subconsciously? Is it really easier to use but in little ways that people do not typically conceptualize? I don’t know. All I know is I think I’ve actually entered the dark side. This was my first official Apple purchase (I didn’t pay for my iPod). I’m hooked. I’ve entered the dark side. I’m not sure I want to go back. Hell, I can’t even stand office anymore and am debating getting iWork for my mac instead of my current office program.

Yesterday afternoon I was back to volunteering my shift at the Lodestar Day Resource Center (LDRC) after missing two weeks due to being in Vancouver and having company in town. It was such a nice day out that for just about half of my time there, mostly everyone was outside so I didn’t have anyone reading. On top of it, the typical top 20 hits that plays on Sundays was replaced by love ballads and elevator music. I needed something to keep my eyes from closing.

I started to read Freakonomics, which I had started on the flight to Vancouver but never finished. I have had it awhile and just never bothered to pick it up and read it until a few weeks ago. Shortly after I started reading it, a man inquired as to what I was reading. After I read the title he asked if he could look at it, to which I gladly agreed. I’ve never had anyone inquire about the books I bring in, which is half the point of bringing them. I rarely read while I’m there; they’re there to start conversation. It worked this time.

The man looked at the cover and then read the description/synopsis on the jacket. He proceeded to read the table of contents and then browse a few chapters, which I’m assuming are ones that looked interested based on their titles. After about 10 minutes he returned it. I asked him if he wanted to borrow it and he looked surprised and then started giggling some. Of course, I was extremely curious by this time so I pressed him as to what was funny about my asking if he wanted to borrow the book.

He then proceeded to discuss his thoughts on the book. He said while many of the chapters seemed interesting and did raise points that deserved to be addressed, that much of it seemed pretty exaggerated, such as the chapter on drug dealers. He began to discuss with me how flawed research is and how it is skewed to the needs of the researcher. We talked for awhile in regards to what is the right question to ask, and if there is truly one “right” question, or just the right question at the right time for the right results. This conversation led to how this is relevant in the news and today’s media and how the right answer is never found by looking at one source, but rather by evaluating multiple sources, especially ones overseas. One of the examples he gave was when companies announce they are laying off, say 1,000 people. According to him, what is not mentioned is that of that 1,000, 400 are jobs were really requisitions the company had open that they are no longer going to fill, and another 300 or so typically are jobs not in the US.

It was so interesting to be involved in a discussion on user research and asking the right questions. Even more so, if there ever really is a “right question.” Is there ever a right question, or only one right question? The question is typically something asked that helps solve the issue, but how do you ever know if you are truly solving the issue? Questions like this are so key in user experience and in making sure the needs of the true user are met and not just the needs of the stakeholders.

Last night I tried out a Refresh Phoenix gathering that was held at Gangplank. Refresh Phoenix is just one chapter of the Refresh project. Refresh is focused on the creative, technical, and technical culture by promoting design, technology, usability, and standards.

I had attempted to attend a few Refresh gatherings back in Detroit while I was there, but most of them I was told were geared towards more of the technical and coding end of the spectrum and less on user experience and usability standards. I was hoping that this would be different.

While it was very interesting, it was definitely not geared towards user experience and interface design. There was a talk on Adobe CS4 and one on developing applications for Android. I loved hearing about the Android development. I only wish there was more talk on accessibility and user standards.

I am even more determined to have an IxDA local group in Phoenix. While Refresh Phoenix is a very great organization, I’d love to bring some more interaction design and user experience focused opportunities to the area. I miss that.