As humans, we are hard-wired to connect with others. Yet our societal debates are largely characterized by barriers to connection. Focusing in mutuality in relationships might change that.
The importance of being connected
The Internet made three big promises to humanity when it went mainstream over a decade ago. Most people focus on two of these – it was to provide universal access to information and revolutionize the global economy. For me, the Internet was always about the third promise: personal connection.
Inspired by Women
Gretchen Clearwater and Ann Kreilkamp spoke at a meeting of Women Inspire Friday night. I was one of two men present, making my plea to the group for involvement in Bloomington Startup Weekend that much more poignant. My view that night is the same kind of ratio most women technologists see when walking into a room of colleagues. My hope is that even a few of the women I met Friday will show up on the roster this week.
Designing What’s Next
A central theme of disconnection between theory and practice was meant as a call to HCI theorists to improve both the communication and the pragmatics of technique. That disconnection applies in the other direction, too, in how we perceive and intervene in the evolution of the World Wide Web. Perhaps we need a little more theory in our practice of predicting the future.
Designed interruptions
Brian Bailey’s research on alerts and timely interruptsions turned out to be very influential in the way I think about designing technology interventions. Whether intentional or organic, a scheme for well-designed interruptions can improve the perceived quality of the experience.