Reading about Margaret Hamilton’s journey in programming the Apollo mission and Don Norman’s thoughts on emotional design made me think deeply about how we blend innovation and design in technology. Hamilton was working on something as monumental as landing humans on the moon. She pioneered women in tech and the concept of software itself. It’s fascinating and a bit disheartening to see how, despite such trailblazers, we still grapple with gender equality in STEM. I wonder what more we must do to make the field more inclusive.
One passage that particularly resonated with me was Hamilton’s description of her work as “both a joy and a responsibility.” This encapsulates her passion and dedication to her work, recognizing its immense significance. It also highlights the pressure and burden she carried, knowing that the lives of astronauts depended on the code she and her team wrote. Even when others saw it as unnecessary, Hamilton’s insistence on adding error checks speaks volumes about foreseeing and mitigating human errors in tech. It’s a reminder of how vital it is to balance trust in technology with caution, especially as we lean more into AI and automation today.
On the flip side, Don Norman’s take on design brings a whole new layer to how we interact with technology. His story about the three teapots, each with a unique blend of aesthetics and functionality, shows that design has a deep meaning about how things look and make us feel and work for us. It got me thinking about how we design our digital tools and interfaces. Are we considering how they feel to use, or just how they function?
Both pieces highlight the importance of looking beyond the surface, whether breaking down gender barriers in tech or creating designs that delight and serve. They make me believe that innovation has more meanings and aspects to explore. Some people think it is only about the next big tech breakthrough, but it has hidden meanings, like making technology more human, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone.