Her Code Got Humans on the Moon
The reading on Hamilton’s journey and the early days of computer programming highlights some important points about physical computing. The reading shows how important the software was in the Apollo mission and the project was very complex and expensive. Therefore the designed software was to be very accurate leaving no room for errors as they would be extremely expensive and could even cause the entire mission to fail. As I look forward to the second half of this course, where we’ll work on physical programming, I plan to approach my projects with similar care, knowing there’s little room for errors. I hope to use strategies to avoid mistakes, like how the Apollo mission used simulations to test things before putting designs into the project.
Norman,“Emotion & Design: Attractive things work better”
The reading caught my attention with its focus on how emotions, aesthetics, and usability affect designs. The idea that “attractive products are not just nice to look at; they also work better because they make people feel good” really stood out to me. It reminded me that when I create my own designs, I should encourage people to explore them. One approach could be adding elements that spark curiosity and raise questions like “How does it work?” while offering hints for exploration.
The idea that, when people feel good, they are often more flexible and creative, leading to better interactions with products, made me think about how designing attractive designs can also boost user engagement and functionality. Based on this for my upcoming projects, I hope to create designs that mix good looks and usability to build a stronger connection with users, making the experience more enjoyable and improving overall satisfaction.