Her Code Got Humans on the Moon – And Invented Software Itself
I’ve known about Margaret Hamilton for quite some time. Her name was the one I would give out when people asked me who my favourite woman in STEM was, and the picture in the reading is the same one that went viral on social media a while ago.
Nevertheless, I was mostly familiar with her accomplishments, and I was quite shocked to find out that she had a daughter at this time, over whom she would be criticized. It only makes me think even higher of her.
I really liked it when Hamilton said, “I was always imagining headlines in the newspapers, and they would point back to how it happened, and it would point back to me.” This shows that Hamilton was very well aware that the stakes of her work went far beyond code or computation. Also, I think her ability to think of potential failures before they happen is what made her so exceptional, and this is a skill that all programmers should try to build. Therefore, a certain attentiveness to detail and analysis of possible outcomes can help build stronger and more reliable programs.
My favorite quote of hers is, “When I first got into it, nobody knew what it was that we were doing. It was like the Wild West.”
Emotion & Design: Attractive things work better
This reading made me realize that emotion plays such a big role in the things we use. An example is Norman owning three teapots, which I found quite funny. He doesn’t really need 3 teapots, but it’s about the feeling that each one brings, and the fact that each teapot brings its own experience.
This idea also connects to what I’ve been learning in my Have a Seat class, where we design and build chairs. I’ve realized that a chair is never just a chair, it holds an emotional presence in a space. The curve of the backrest, the texture of the wood, even the way light hits it can make someone feel calm, inspired, or comforted. Just like in Norman’s article, emotion becomes part of usability. When people feel good around a design, they tend to engage with it more positively, and that’s when it truly “works better.”
I used to think that attractive designs were somehow less practical. Growing up, I often heard that bright or playful designs were less “serious.” But this article completely challenges that idea. Beauty can enhance function rather than distract from it. So I guess my main takeaway from this reading is that human beings are drawn to designs that are not just usable, but that bring pleasure, comfort, and meaning.