Discussion Question Set #1

As you study this week's material, please ponder the following discussion questions. Post your responses in the appropriate threads in WebCT.

1. As you live your life this week, pay attention to the thousands of everyday objects that pervade your live. Take note of the designs that work for you, as well as the designs that do not work for you. Using a digital camera, take snapshots of objects whose designs (good and bad) you find notable, and post them to WebCT, along with your comments on why they do or do not work for you.

2. How does making a call differ when using a cell phone vs. a public phone booth? Consider the kinds of users, types of activities and context of use.

3. How do usability goals differ from user experience goals? Are there tradeoffs between the two kinds of goals?
   For example, can a product be both fun and safe? How easy is it to measure usability versus user experience goals?

4. Consider the common computer scroll bar widget. It contains clickable up and down arrows, along with a slider that can be dragged up and down. Does this widget, in your estimation, afford its use? Why or why not?

5. Suppose you are designing the placement and layout of light switches for a room with many different lights. Sketch out at least two alternative designs that would work, and state the design concepts and principles you applied in order to come up with the designs.