Category: Interaction Design

Meine letzten Blogeinträge:

Für dieses Semester werde ich mein Thema ändern. Im letzten Semester habe ich mich damit beschäftigt, wie man Gamification durch Interaktionen auf Websites platziert und wann genau das Sinnvoll ist. Leider bin ich im Zuge meiner Recherchen automatisch immer wieder ins E-Commerce abgerutscht und habe begonnen, vermehrt darüber zu Recherchieren. Seit April 2023 habe ich eine Anstellung an der der Technischen Universität als Webdesignerin und Webentwicklerin ergattern können. Ich bekam nicht nur die Möglichkeit, bis Ende 2024 zu arbeiten und meine Fähigkeiten in diesem Bereich weiter auszubauen sondern auch die Gelegenheit, meine Masterarbeit an der TU Graz zu schreiben.

Das Thema, um das es sich in meiner Masterarbeit drehen wird, lautet: “Relaunch der Website vom digital university hub – vom neuen Interfacedesign bis hin zur Entwicklung”. Das ist nur eine grobe Vorstellung von einem möglichen Titel. Ich bin begeistert von dieser Chance, an einem so spannenden Projekt mitzuarbeiten und die Webseite des DUH neu zu gestalten und weiterzuentwickeln.

Auf die kommenden Monate freue ich mich, wo ich meinen Beitrag zur Verbesserung der Website des DUH leisten werde und mein Wissen im Bereich Webdesign und Webentwicklung weiter ausbauen kann.

Was ist der Duh?
Der digitale University Hub (DUH) ist eine spannende Initiative, die von der Technischen Universität Graz, der Universität Graz und der Universität Wien ins Leben gerufen wurde. Sie hat das Ziel, Hochschulen im Bereich der digitalen und sozialen Transformation zu vernetzen und weiterzuentwickeln.

Der DUH bringt Hochschul-Akteure zusammen, um gemeinsames Wissen und wertvolle Erfahrungen auszutauschen. Dadurch sollen österreichische Hochschulen bestmöglich auf kommende Herausforderungen vorbereitet und erfolgreich sein. Besonders wichtig ist dabei der partizipative Gedanke, der den Fortschritt aller teilnehmenden Hochschulen fördert.

Ein besonderes Merkmal des DUH ist der freie Zugang zu Tools, Methoden und Erfahrungen in den Bereichen digitale und soziale Transformation, Change Management sowie (Open Source) Software und IT-Services im Hochschulbereich. Durch die enge Vernetzung von Schlüsselprojekten und engagierten Personen strebt der DUH die Schaffung nachhaltiger Ansätze zur Digitalisierung und Prozessoptimierung an. Zudem liegt ein starkes Augenmerk auf einer wachsenden, gemeinschaftlichen Zusammenarbeit zwischen den Universitäten.

Der DUH unterstützt Hochschulen dabei, den Herausforderungen der digitalen Transformation mutig entgegenzutreten und von den wertvollen Erfahrungen anderer Hochschulen zu profitieren. Es handelt sich um eine vielversprechende Initiative, die den Austausch von Wissen und die Zusammenarbeit zwischen den österreichischen Hochschulen auf positive Weise fördert.

• https://www.digitaluniversityhub.eu

Last week I had the opportunity to participate in the Humane Design workshop during the International Design Week. I thought that it would be interesting to try something new, that would also give me ideas for my next steps or ideas in general for my topic for the Design & Research class. 

Humane Interaction Design’s main focus is on designing for humans in the real world, which aligns with my topic. The goal is to create interfaces that do not sell anything, that don’t try to change your mind, manipulate you, etc. Nowadays many businesses, and companies strive to create products that do not really serve people. Most of them are too capitalized and focus only on getting something out of it, rather than doing something for the user. This results in people losing trust in technology and everything modern.

Humane design focuses on designing with empathy and ethics. To my mind, this is necessary for my topic because, through the design process, it ensures that interfaces are not only usable but also respectful of the user’s diverse culture and background, which I think sometimes is overlooked. We could see and experience this when we were talking about the results of our experiments. Being more empathic helped us connect with people on a deeper level, learn about their life stories and understand their problems more.

During our workshop, I also learned that people actually strive for connecting with someone or something that would appreciate their culture, background, and their differences. No matter what or where they come from, people want to feel seen and understood. I think it would be challenging and interesting at the same time to design an interface that would answer those needs and feel humane during usage.

This workshop experience was really nice because it was completely different from what we are used to doing in everyday life. It reminded us about the values of connecting with people, experiencing emotions in real life, and about the importance of staying human.

I was fortunate to participate in a workshop during the International Design Week that aligned perfectly with my topic of “toxic Instagram.” In this workshop, our aim was to counteract the movement of UX design where it is no longer the human using technology, but rather technology using the human. Users are reduced to raw materials for these platforms, paying with a significant amount of personal data.

During the workshop, we collectively reflected on the emotions we experience when using Instagram. On one hand, it was reassuring to realize that we all share similar feelings and that we’re in the same boat. On the other hand, it further emphasized the importance of instigating change. As individuals using a platform like Instagram, we don’t bear direct responsibility for everything that happens to us. We are, in a way, victims of this technology, carrying the consequences with us.

Humane Interaction Design aims to shift its focus to the human beings living in the real world, in contrast to User Experience (UX) Design, which often instrumentalizes individuals as users and limits them to that role. An example of this can be seen in the realm of social media, where empathy is often forgotten, and many of the values that define us as humans are being eroded. On social media platforms, we present ourselves in a particular way, without immediate consequences that exist in the offline world. It creates a sense of disembodiment, where we may not witness the reactions to our actions. The problem arises when the system stops serving you, but you are serving the system. Social media is a prime example of this, as it keeps users engaged without necessarily helping them achieve their actual goals or progress in any meaningful way. The longer we stay engaged, the more it benefits the platform rather than serving our personal growth or well-being.

The workshop’s exploration of humane design left a lasting impression on my understanding of the role of technology in society. It challenged the prevailing narrative where users become mere commodities for data collection. Instead, we reimagined UX design as a means to foster authentic human experiences. This experience reminded me of the essence of humanity, embracing both the highs and lows, and recognizing the power of genuine connections. It was a transformative journey that reinforced the significance of designing with empathy, purpose, and a profound appreciation for the human experience.

The workshop experience highlighted the importance of a shift in perspective when it comes to design. It reminded me that the ultimate goal should always be to create meaningful and impactful experiences for human beings. I realized that technology should serve as a tool to enhance human lives rather than overshadow them. By embracing a humane design approach, I acknowledged the value of genuine connections, emotions, and diverse perspectives. It emphasized the need to consider the ethical implications of our designs and to prioritize the well-being and empowerment of users (humans). This workshop served as a powerful reminder that putting the human at the center of design is not only essential but also deeply rewarding.

I want to take these thoughts and all the emotions that have emerged during this week to delve deeper into exploring how to counteract this problem, specifically focusing on Instagram. I want to examine different approaches and analyze existing movements and features, building upon them to find potential solutions.

When immigrants move to Austria, they often face the challenge of adapting to a new culture and navigating unfamiliar digital interfaces. Cultural adaptation plays a significant role in interface usability, as cultural differences can influence how users perceive, interpret, and interact with digital platforms.


The Impact of Cultural Adaptation on Interface Usability:

Culture and different backgrounds influence people’s expectations, preferences, and their interaction with digital interfaces and adaptation to them. Adapting interfaces to align with people’s cultural backgrounds improves usability and user satisfaction. Research studies have highlighted the impact of cultural adaptation on interface usability.

Our culture, upbringing and background will affect which interfaces (ex: websites) we consider beautiful, convenient in use. For example, the vibrant, busy streets of Seoul are reflected in Naver.com, the most widely used search engine in South Korea, as seen in Fig. 1. 

Fig.1

Usually, this would look like too much information for most Westerns, who are more accustomed to using Google. The example of Google and Naver suggests that users  across the world have divergent preferences towards the  design and functionality of Web sites. [1] This shows how something as “natural” to us as search engines, can differ and provide completely different experiences based on differences in culture.

The website is just an example, but different types of interfaces could help with cultural adaptation. My next step will be researching the main useful features the interface should have and exploring what type of interface I would like to create.

Resources:
[1]. https://wildlab.cs.washington.edu/Publications_files/reinecke_it.pdf

Um ein noch besseres Verständnis aufzubauen, warum Menschen sich nicht die Hilfe hohlen die sich bräuchten möchte ich eine Umfrage verfassen. Sie soll verschiedene Themenbereiche abfragen.

Zunächst werden die Demografischen Daten abgefragt.

Dann soll das allgemeine Interesse am Thema und die Kontaktpunkte mit dem Thema erfragt werden.

Schließlich sollen eventuelle Stigmata identifiziert werden.

Des Weiteren werden Fragen gestellt über die Inanspruchnahme des Gesundheitssystem in Sachen Mental Health.

Zuletzt soll festgestellt werden welche Mittel genutzt werden um sich mit der eigenen Mentalen Gesundheit auseinander zu setzten.

• What gender do you identify with?
  Male,Female,Divers
• Wie alt bist du?
• Are you interested in the topic of mental health?
  Yes / No
• How did you get in touch with the topic of mental health?
  Friends/Family
  Articles/ News
  Social Media
  Reconnaissance Campaign
  Not yet
  Other_____
• What do you think about people who go to therapy?
  ________
• Questions: Agree – Disagree
  People who go to therapy are weak.
  You should only go to therapy when you are in a really bad place.
  I would go to therapy after a burn-out.
  Therapy is for sensitive people.
  If I have depression, I would go to therapy.
  If I have mental problems, I would go to coaching.
  I work on my mental health.
• Do you talk a lot with your friends/family about Mental health
  often – never
• Which gender do you talk to about your Mental Health more often?
  Male,Female,Divers
• Have you ever been to therapy?
  Yes, No
• When would you go to therapy?
  _____
• Would you like to go to therapy (again)?
  Yes No
• Why were you in therapy?
  _____(open)
• Why didn’t you go to therapy?
  I do not need it
  It is too expensive
  The waiting time is too long
  The process to get a therapist is too difficult
  Other_____
• What bothers you about therapy?
  _____
• What resources have you used to address your mental health?
  Therapy
  Mental Health Apps
  Self-help books
  Meditation
  Sports, Yoga
  AI Chat Bot
  Coaching
  Conversations with friends/family/acquaintances
  Mindfulness exercises
  Writing diary
  Other____
  None
• Do you know what would be good for your mental health?
  ______
• Do you have any further comments on the subject?
  ______