Month: October 2024

Both of this week’s readings are the result of developing a complex relationship between aesthetics, degree of complexity and function. Norman in his readings states that inproving the user experience through design is important as it allows users to ignore the minor flaws and bugs by impressing them with creativity. For example, he states that walking the plank at different heights might seem same, but as the height increases, a person might reconsider that. However, if there are some aesthetic design incorporation, then one might choose to do so either due to aesthetic curiosity. However, initially going through Margaret Hamilton’s reading, even I was quite sure that her view is quite in contrast with Norman, as she focusses majorly on error-free, mission-critical functionality while designing software for the Apollo systems. This is because of the risks involved in her work. At the moon surface, a place unknown to humans, anything could go wrong and total preparation was needed. This became clear when just before landing on the moon, the computer overwhelmed with the many tasks on hand, chose to prioritize the main task, and leave the others.

However, Norman’s approach to adaptability in design based on aesthetics goes well with Hamilton’s approach to adaptability in systems. Norman thinks that an appealing interface makes a product more usable for a wider range of people. Hamilton, on the other hand, worked with NASA on the Apollo program and showed adaptability through strict, modular engineering that could handle unexpected edge cases, like when her daughter made a critical error during testing. These similar and different ideas show that Norman’s ideas about beauty make everyday things easier to use, while Hamilton’s high-stakes setting shows how important it is to build for reliability and test things thoroughly, which is an important quality in and of itself for life-or-death tasks.

Idea

For this project, my initial idea was to use a simple interaction as a switch to light up the LED light. I think hugs is the most suitable, because hugs usually gives us warmth and energy, which can symbolically ‘light up’ a light.

Implementation

I create a simple circuit like in this one:

I connect the 3.3V to the resistor -> LED -> ground. However, from the 3.3V to the bread board, instead of connecting the wire directly to the resistor, I attach it with a piece of tin foil to my plushy. I also attach another tin foil on my T-shirt, this tin foil is attached to a wire, which is connected to the resistor. Hence, when I hug the plushy, the tin foils touch, completing the circuit and turn on the light.

Video

 

My project implementation was fairly simple, so I did not encounter many problems. Nevertheless, I do have some tips from my first experience working with Arduino. Initially, I tried connecting the wires with regular tape, which didn’t work at all since it isn’t conductive. I then switched to tin foil and wrapped it around the connecting points. Next time, I would use conductive tape or male-to-female wires instead.

Reflection

I enjoyed creating this project. I think the components provided in the Arduino kit make building physical projects much easier. I also try to look at “switch” in a different perspective to come up with a switch which is not only unusual but also has some kinds of meaning.

Short Description:

The project for week 8 asks to design a switch without manually connecting the switch to the power. By looking through some online resources and reviewing the Arduino documents, I created a switch using the distance sensor that detects if there is an object in front of the circuit and two LED diodes that reflect if an object is present. When an object is present, the circuit would light the red LED, and when there isn’t an object, the circuit would light the green LED.

INITAL APPOACH

Going into the project, I knew I wanted to use the sensors that came with the kit because I wanted to learn more about the connections of the components and coding in the Arduino IDE. By searching on Youtube and Arduino documentations, I initially played around with the light senor and was able to create a switch that is dependent on the amount of light that is present in the room. If there was low visibility, the LED would turn on, and if there was high visibility, the LED would turn off. Here is the link I referenced.

However, I felt this design wasn’t creative enough and sill had other components in my kit I want to learn about, so I decided play around with the distance sensor as well.

Light Sensor LED Switch （from Arduino）

The Process

The biggest challenge in the project was understand how the distance sensor worked, but I found a useful Youtube video  that was able to explain the manual to me and walk through the process of connecting each pin to the Arduino board. I understood how to connect the GND and VCC pins, and through the Youtube video, I learned that the trig pin sends out an ultrasonic wave and the echo pin would receive the ultrasonic wave if something was in front the component — similar to bats & echolocation.

Physical Components

After understanding the component, all that was left was to connect my circuit and set up the code to run the project. Below is the photo of my circuit connections from TinkerCAD and physical circuit. Here is a short video (IMG_4697) of how the circuit would work.

TINKERCAD

GREEN LIGHT -- No Object Present

RED LIGHT -- Object Present (i.e: my hand)

The Code

Through the in-class exercise, tinkering with the light sensors, and looking through Youtube videos, I was able to write a short code in the Arduino IDE that makes the circuit function. Below is the main looping function.

void loop() {
// sets the trig pin to a low state 
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(2);

// every 10 mircoseconds sends out a pulse (based off the manual)
digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(10);
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);

// from the echoPin --> returns the time it took the sound wave to travel in microseconds
timeTraveled = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);

// calculate the distance (in micrometer)
distance= timeTraveled * 0.034/2;
onDistance = distance;
if (onDistance <= 5){
  digitalWrite(ledRedPin, HIGH);
}
else{
  digitalWrite(ledRedPin, LOW);
}

Conclusion

Overall, I am very happy with how it turned out and being creative with the hand motions of “stop” for red and “go” for green in the circuit. I liked that I was able to learn more about the components and also work in software to make the circuit function the way I wanted it. For anyone else curious or wanting to learn more about Arduino, there are numerous resources and tutorial online that are so helpful, and I recommend anyone else just starting out in Arduino to take a learn and have fun.

Emotion and Design: Attractive Things Work Better

Don Norman’s essay, Attractive Things Work Better, focuses on clarifying and further elaborating on some ideas that came into conversation from his piece, The Design of Everyday Things. He works to identify a common ground between beauty and commenting on the importance of both of them. In Everyday Things he  focuses on how designer should prioritize usability, which gave users the impression that it should be prioritized at the sacrifice of aesthetics. However, in this piece Norman explores how the aesthetics of a design can also dictate it’s usability for an individual.

For example, he proposes the idea of walking across a 1 meter wide plank at different height intervals. As the plank gets higher and higher off the ground, the likelihood that an individual would be willing to cross it decreases each time, indicating how the external factors, or appearance, can play a part in whether or not an object is usable. This is important because it further instills how the design process has to be user oriented. Not only does the design of an object itself play a role, but the user’s emotions and the greater context of how an object will be used are extremely relevant. Although finding a happy medium between the two (like discussed in the 3 teapots) is far from easy, it also creates a space for unique design as different creations can adapt to the needs of different people.

Her Code Got Humans on the Moon—And Invented
Software Itself

Robert McMillan’s article, Her Code Got Humans on the Moon, discusses Margaret Hamilton’s career while programming the code that would be used to launch the Apollo. It started out as a discussion of her career progression how she got into this field, and then focuses on her pivotal role as an engineer working on the Apollo project. Hamilton’s story is particularly interesting not only because she was a woman working in tech in the 60s, but also because the work she developed has become part of the foundation for developing software today.

As a mother, she faced lots of doubt and criticism from people who did not understand the important work she was doing. However, in her field, she was respected and welcomed for her contributions to the project. Not only did she defy the societal expectations placed on her, but she excelled in every way. Scientists such as Hamilton are strong examples of how people can go against the odds and make great strides in their field.

I began my reading with the piece about Margaret Hamilton, feeling a strong curiosity to learn more about her. It resonated deeply when she mentioned being “one of the guys,” as it reminded me of how, in many cultures, there is a stereotype that only men excel in mathematics, coding, and engineering. When a woman shows talent in these fields, it is often seen as “unusual.” Her story was truly inspiring, highlighting not only her achievements but also the consistency and persistence that made her a role model in engineering. Even though it’s not the first time I’ve encountered gender disparity in STEM, her approach to tackling “imposter syndrome”—which I believe many women in STEM have faced—was a particularly powerful lesson. It’s a reminder to everyone, regardless of gender, to stay focused on their goals and remain committed to what they want to achieve. Her story also brought to mind the movie *Hidden Figures*, which is a great watch for anyone interested in the experiences of women in STEM.

For the second reading, I’ve been brainstorming ideas related to cognitive science and human adaptability. This reading showed how design, when informed by cognitive science, can significantly impact our experiences. For instance, when I visit stores like Miniso, I often find myself drawn to items that are aesthetically pleasing and easy to use. Of course, the definition of “aesthetic” may vary from person to person; for me, it means a sleek, minimal design with soothing colors and user-friendly features. While aesthetic preferences differ, there must be some fundamental principles that apply to everyone. In this context, it’s important to explore the concept of affect and design to understand how we shape our environments and how these designs impact our daily lives. Striking a balance between beauty and usability is indeed the key factor in innovating effective designs and products.

Her Code Got Humans on the Moon

Margaret Hamilton’s story is incredibly inspiring and shows the power of resilience and innovation. She didn’t just contribute to the Apollo moon landing; she redefined what software could be, pioneering a field that would become the backbone of modern technology. Her work at MIT’s Instrumentation Lab, where she developed error-detecting and recovery software for the Apollo missions, was groundbreaking. During the Apollo 11 landing, her code prevented mission failure when the guidance computer overloaded, proving the essential role of well-designed software in complex systems.

What’s especially cool is that Hamilton saw the potential of software when others didn’t. She pushed to make it a core part of the mission’s success, even coining the term “software engineering.” Her success in a male-dominated field makes her story even more remarkable, showing how powerful one person’s vision can be. Hamilton’s legacy is a reminder of how perseverance and challenging norms can lead to innovations that change the world. Her work inspires me to approach challenges with the same confidence and creativity.

Norman,“Emotion & Design: Attractive things work better”

Donald A. Norman’s “Emotion & Design: Attractive Things Work Better” presents a fascinating perspective on the link between aesthetics and functionality. Norman argues that attractive designs aren’t just visually pleasing but also improve usability and user experience. He explains that beautiful, well-designed products trigger positive emotions, which, in turn, make users more open to exploring and interacting with them. This positive emotional state even enhances cognitive abilities, helping people think more creatively and handle challenges more effectively. Norman’s insights challenge the traditional view that function alone is enough, showing that emotional responses play a vital role in how we perceive and use everyday objects.

This idea is compelling because it suggests that design impacts not only a product’s usability but also its psychological effect on users. Norman’s argument that beauty can make products “work better” reveals how critical emotional connections are in design. His work is a powerful reminder for designers to consider aesthetics as an essential part of the user experience, not just an afterthought. It’s inspiring to think of design as a bridge between function and emotion, enhancing both user satisfaction and product effectiveness.

Her Code Got Humans on the Moon

When people bring the Apollo project, my mind always goes to Margaret Hamilton because she does not get enough credit for the work she contributed to the success of the mission. As the work of women in male-dominate fields has been systematically forgotten in history, I feel her efforts towards the development of software engineering at NASA has gone unnoticed. Knowing that she had to balance childcare while pursuing her goals (and under considerable amount of pressure), Hamilton’s story is incredibly inspiring to me because it shows that woman have the capabilities to achieve the same academic rigorous fields as men and not limited to housekeeping task.

There’s also the famous photo of Hamiliton next to the code she wrote by hand for the project that makes me realize how far technology has advance within the past decade. Just in the past 60 years, computation has reverted from manually hand punched cards and written embedded design to a completely digitalized software system. As such, for me, the complexity of physical design and software applications has influenced my curiosity to understand how computerI architectural design effects digital computation. Knowing someone like me has been able to understand and develop software before it was mainstream has helped me continue to pursue my goals when times get difficult.

Norman,“Emotion & Design: Attractive things work better”

Norman’s writing talks about the aesthetic which a product embodies affects the way the user perceive it usability and effectiveness. Depending on the circumstances, the product may be more useful, while some not as much. With the three tea pots example, I agree with the theme and that people purchase certain items because of the way it may look and how’d present to other guests or fit in into the task at hand. If the circumstances call for quick/ stress solution, the usability of the product will weigh more than the design. Similarly, if a person has time to appreciate the process, then its design can be extended and shaped uniquely.

I feel all humans have a bias towards what design choice brings them joy, and so in feeling good about the product, the process of using that product would be more enjoyable and any cons are overshadowed by the joy. Whereas, if one is frustrated and disappointed with the product, it sets the expectation that the product would not work as well and one may not put as much effort to finding a solution. I think an interesting point Norman brings up is colored computer screens because if people didn’t like the colored screens modern computers would have remained black and white. Since our eyes perceive color in our everyday lives, it is unsettling to have a black and white scree. As such, I feel our experiences through our senses and experiences define the expectations we lay on the tools we use.