#this also reminded me to ask if anyone knows any good online autism tests | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

calespsychoticbubble · 3 years

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Whoops this is long

A friend said something recently based on something that also happened recently.

The something that happened: We had gathered (online) to hang out and a friend (A) had asked me about my thoughts on teaching in a Christian school. I said that was fine, but I was equally fine about teaching in a public school. The same friend started to go on at length about how it was important to teach in public schools and about praying and leaving your burdens and troubles with God and praying for the students to come to know Jesus. The friend said everything twice. I smiled and nodded and eventually said I was going to leave and left the meeting.

What my other friend said: later that evening, my other friend (B) sent a message that they knew the friend (A) acted like that sometimes and that I was free to stop them (politely) if it was getting a bit bothersome because “we are all adults”. I said that was fine, I was used to it. My friend (B) and I met up later and spoke more about it, extending the conversation to their dislike of labels and how people didn’t always treat their friend (A) nicely, claiming something must be “wrong” about them, that fellowship could be exclusive at times and that labels often produced a sense of pity for that person.

For some reason, this bothered me. Both situations bothered me.

I know why friend A bothered me. Their talking at length reminded me of some people I had met at church before who offered their unsolicited advice and you listened to them out of respect but did not take the time to discuss/argue/disagree with them because it wasn’t really worth the effort. They had good intentions, they weren’t trying to make you do anything. But this event reminded me of those times and naturally I tuned out pretty quickly. I don’t really appreciate being lectured at, especially when it sounds like (not that the friend thinks this way) they know better, which is ironic because the friend (A) mentioned that sometimes people in Christian schools talk like they know better/are better.

But I’m not 100% sure I know why the second situation bothered me.

I think part of it may be because stopping someone mid-sentence or mid-conversation does not directly correlate to an adult response? I am an adult, yes, so does that mean I have to stop a person when I find them irritating? Not necessarily. Would a polite “thank you for sharing” have been appropriate? I don’t know. I had trouble responding after the lengthy speech from the friend (A) because I couldn’t remember what was said to begin with (even then my recollection above is not very specific). Is it fine to stop someone? I think so. Did I feel like I was capable of doing so in that situation? Not really. My friend (B) also did not stop them.

It also reminded me of a student I had taught before who had a habit of asking questions and ranting a bit. It was a skill to navigate those conversations so that I could still address the student’s curiosity and make them feel heard while also leaving opportunity for other students to speak and be involved in the class.... which leads me to the labels.

This student had some kind of... something. It required a label, nonetheless.

I think what may have bothered me about my friend’s (B) outright dislike of labels made it sound like labels didn’t matter/weren’t important/not needed. In some cases, I think this is true. MBTI, horoscopes, and zodiac signs are good examples of unnecessary labels. They might be fun, but they don’t define you. But some labels have more weight to them. Mental disorders, learning disabilities, religious groups, sexual identity. These labels will often have more weight.

The perspective I offered to my friend in response to their thoughts was that the risk behind labels is that they can be reductive. If all you see of a person (or of yourself) is “depressed” then yes that’s a big issue. Or if all you see is “autistic” then it is a problem. A person is not just one or two labels. Everyone is unique and multifaceted. There are tons of labels used to describe everyone. But if you allow one to swallow you, that can be dangerous. So I guess what I was trying to say is that labels can be helpful and harmful, but the usage and significance given to them is what is important to note (ie so it’s not the label of “autism” that should be the problem, but the act of making “autism” everything about you that IS). Of course, this was not meant to change anyone’s perspective, but I found it puzzling nonetheless.

I figure that this friend (A) may have been accused (?) of being autistic, which is what sparked my other friend’s (B) comments, as he saw the label as unnecessary in any capacity and that the label would bring pity. I guess this struck a nerve with me as I think labels can be helpful in some capacities (medical diagnoses, learning disabilities, to name a couple), and it’s not meant to be reductive or pitiful for that person. It is simply a fact. You have _____. And that diagnosis/label may bring about challenges, but having a name doesn’t take away that challenge or necessarily make it worse. Of course there will be people that will use it to stereotype or create a prejudice, but on an objective level the label doesn’t matter.

I guess I speak from an ideal perspective as well. “Oh it would be nice it everyone was just respectful and inclusive of all people regardless of their labels” when in reality that doesn’t always happen. So I understand not wanting to apply a label, but resisting testing (especially if testing will help you get support you need) or rejecting all labels can be harmful.

With all this in mind, perhaps what people miss out on (and I’m thinking in the fellowship context for this idea) is that our identity is founded in Christ. First and foremost we are followers of God. That should be the primary identity/label that we stick with and look at. All the other ones fall to the wayside. So if we let other labels create boundaries in our relationships with other believers (”oh they have autism so they won’t get it. Let’s not include them.”), that is really not cool. But to have other labels attached to your identity as a Christian seems fine to me (”I am a Christian who also happens to have autism”). Even moreso, using these to build a relationship with other believers can be a powerful tool (”Oh, you’re a Christian? Me too. You also happen to be an ISFJ? Me too!”). Of course that relationship is founded first and foremost in Christ, but to have other things/labels in common isn’t harmful either. It can help someone feel understood and heard within the Christian community.

As someone who does not have a mental disability/other similar label attached to them, I can’t necessarily speak based on experience, but I imagine that having someone in your community that you can relate to is positive. So do you need to be upfront in your labels? Not really. Are they harmful? They can be, but they don’t have to be.

So I guess I am taking more of a moderate approach towards these labels, as have seen them help people understand themselves better. In turn, we can use this understanding to extend understanding and empathy towards others. Does it always need a label? No. But should we reject them? I don’t think we have to.

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fashiontrendin-blog · 6 years

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I Found Out I Had Asperger’s at 33

http://fashion-trendin.com/i-found-out-i-had-aspergers-at-33/

I Found Out I Had Asperger’s at 33

Those with Asperger syndrome are said to sit on the “high-functioning” end of the autism spectrum. While all subtypes of autism are now technically folded into a single diagnosis (autism spectrum disorder, or ASD), the breadth of the spectrum means living with ASD looks different for everyone.

Taylor was diagnosed with Asperger’s as an adult. The process of reflecting on her life and seeing herself through a new lens has been both scary and enlightening. When I got her on the phone to hear what that’s been like, she was chatty and friendly; I detected none of the bluntness she told me she has to keep in check.

Such are the subtleties of the Asperger’s experience — and it’s why I asked Taylor to share hers. Below is her as-told-to story. –Haley Nahman

Being diagnosed

I didn’t know that I had Asperger’s until a year ago. I was 33 when I was diagnosed. It was a long process. I think being diagnosed as an adult is a very strange experience, but it was also a massive relief. As a kid, I suffered from anxiety, but doctors diagnosed me with depression and stuffed me with drugs. Now when I look back, I think I was just struggling with Asperger’s and struggling to communicate with people.

Throughout my life, I tried to mask my social anxiety and social shortcomings by being outgoing and funny — but funny in a kind of offensive way. It sometimes made people laugh, but it also sometimes made people say that I was too much. I’ve always had a strange relationship with people and the way I communicate with them. I’m very blunt; I say whatever is on my mind. A lot of people don’t like that; they prefer the sugarcoated pleasantries. I remember during one of my first jobs in media, I was asked by my boss to add smiley faces and exclamation points to my emails because I sounded so mean in them.

I moved to Berlin in 2013. That was an interesting experience because not only was I dealing with new people, but also a new culture. German people are stereotypically very blunt, as well; they’re not big into small talk [like Americans]. In that way, it was nice for me because I felt a little more normal. But two years ago, I started getting really depressed. I was having a lot of trouble making new friends. Berlin is a very transient city, so I would meet new people and they’d move away. My friend group would fluctuate a lot, and I got to a point where I had only a handful of friends, if that.

I was super-lonely. I got really depressed thinking people didn’t invite me out because they didn’t like me, so I started looking at how I am with people and how I communicate with them. I started reading a bunch of things online, and, like any good digital native, I self-diagnosed myself on the internet. I took an online Asperger’s test and it indicated I was on the spectrum. But I thought, Okay, whatever, it’s just the internet.

Then my depression got worse, and my sister, who lives in New York, finally suggested I go talk to someone. I found a psychologist and met with her and said, “I took this Asperger’s test online and it’s probably stupid…” And she said, “Not at all — you actually have a lot of the symptoms. Let’s dive deeper into it and find out.”

The [official] test is on the computer, combined with talking to someone in person and problem-solving and stuff. It’s kind of similar to the Myers-Briggs test — that was actually a component to it, as well. Mine, INTJ, turned out to be very prone to Asperger’s. The therapist gave me a lot of literature, and we kind of went on this journey together of figuring out what it means for me as an adult. It’s been scary but also such a relief.

How it feels

It’s hard for me to explain what it feels like because I can’t speak to other people’s experiences. The spectrum is massive. Different people are plotted along it in different ways. I have a cousin who is low-functioning — he’ll never be able to live on his own — whereas I am high-functioning and you wouldn’t necessarily know I have Asperger’s if I didn’t tell you. Everyone has different quirks and different ticks.

I do think there are key commonalities, though. For one, we process information differently. For example, today was a really hard day for me because my boss sent me a two-sentence email. I had to read it 20 times, say it out loud and write it down to understand it. I was so overwhelmed I actually had to step outside for a little while. I couldn’t process this one sentence that said, “Add links to the document below and draft an email and send it.” I finally had to ask my coworker, “What does this mean?” It took me 20 minutes to figure out. The email was simple.

I think for a lot of neurotypical people, it’s much easier to pick up on tone of voice, body language or other nonverbal cues and know what they mean, whereas people with Asperger’s have trouble with that. Someone may say something to me that is bitingly sarcastic and I might leave with the impression that they’re very genuine. It’s hard. Sometimes my boyfriend will have to remind me when something’s a joke.

My brain just never feels fully comfortable. People think I’m being rude when I ask a question like, “Can you repeat yourself?” But it’s not that I’m not listening or meaning to be impolite — my brain just didn’t process what they said. It’s hard to describe how it feels exactly because other brains cannot grasp the way that my brain works. I tell people, “I don’t pick up on body language” or “I can’t look people in the eye” or “I don’t like being touched” because those things are relatable, but there are processing things that are harder to explain.

For example, your boss might send you an email saying, “Hey, I need this article finished by the end of the day,” and you would think, Okay, cool. I know exactly what she’s talking about. Whereas for me, my first thought is, Is this person angry at me? Followed by What article is she talking about? and What does she mean by finished? What if she’s not happy with it? Should I write two different versions just in case? What if they’re not the right two versions?

There’s a lot of overthinking, there’s a lot of overcomplicating. Nothing ever feels simple. I can’t trust my thoughts. I don’t think people quite understand how easy it is for neurotypical people to process information. It can be really crippling for people with Asperger’s.

I have to remind myself to smile. Even with my boyfriend sometimes, he’ll get really flustered. Sometimes I’ll think I’m being really cheeky and funny and playful, and he’ll get upset because it’s just not translating. And I’ll have to say, “I’m trying to not be too blunt! I’m trying to be subtle.” Reading people’s social cues is a tough one.

Another thing with people on the spectrum is sensory overload. Often you hear about people on the spectrum who can’t be around too many lights and sounds — mine is smell. It’s really weird. I like to know ahead of time if I’m going to be somewhere where there might be overpowering smells because they might rile me up and make me really uncomfortable.

Living with it

My entire life, I never felt like a normal person. In high school, I wasn’t unpopular — I had a lot of different social groups I hung out with — but everyone I was friends with always told me, “You’re really weird, you’re really loud, you’re really this,” etc. So I never felt that anyone really liked me. My impression was more that they just put up with me. In hindsight, I know people did like me because I have friends from childhood I’m still close with, but that’s how I felt.

My best friends now know that I have Asperger’s and can pick up on when I’m struggling. It’s helpful to have people who understand my triggers so they can give me space and give me what I need. My friends will sometimes say, “Do you just need to go outside for a minute?” They know to be supportive.

Now that I know I have trouble processing, I have even more trouble with people who are not to the point and tell me [excess] information. I cut people off because I’m either taking too long to process what they said or I’ve already processed it and I’ve gotten the most information I could possibly need out of that sentence and I’m done. I have to just shut it down sometimes.

I live in England currently, and the cultural stereotype here is to be nice and polite even if you’re pissed off, so that’s something [else] I struggle with. I try to stop before I say things and make myself say them in a nice way, which feels very unnatural.

For a while after I found out, I was worried about telling people because I didn’t know that much about it. If I said I had [Asperger’s], people immediately asked what it was or responded that they’d seen a special on BBC or something. And I’d think, You have no idea. I even made my boyfriend read so much stuff, and he’s still having a hard time understanding it. My parents would say, “You don’t have Asperger’s” because they didn’t see it. It’s taken them a while to understand it.

I think now, though, I just address it head-on. If I think someone is confused or I get the sense that they think I’m being weird, I just tell them. Sometimes I also say it up front so people know. Where I work now, I made the decision to tell them from the very beginning of the interview process. It’s funny because everyone there said, “I’m fairly certain this is the perfect place for you because all the processes that we have in the office are fairly Asperger’s-friendly.” And that just means no bullshit. They don’t want fluff. Just straightforward stuff. We’re not allowed to use Powerpoint — we just use Word documents, and that’s ideal for me because I’m able to just get things out and not have to worry about pleasantries. They like when people push back and say what they mean, too. It’s been a really good environment.

There is no treatment, just awareness. I’m still navigating it all. A lot of it is reading literature and reading about other people’s experiences as well as learning from your own experiences. You can’t be embarrassed about it. All you can do is learn more and grow with it. The diagnosis has changed the way I think about myself. I think it’s empowered me. It’s made me like myself more because when you’re constantly told by people that you’re a bitch or too blunt or too whatever, it doesn’t make you feel good. My whole life, I’ve struggled with how I’ve interacted with people, and now I finally have an answer. I’m not ashamed of it.

Collages by Emily Zirimis.

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t-baba · 6 years

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Transcript: Ask the UXperts: How Psychology and Neuroscience Can Support Design — with Susan Weinschenk

Susan Weinschenk joined us in our Slack channel yesterday in what was one of the most popular sessions that I’ve run to date. She did a stellar job of keeping up with the quick-fire questions and the hour flew by.

The session marked the culmination of our theme for November – how psychology and neuroscience help us design for people. We used Susan’s book 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People as the inspiration for our discussions so it was a fitting way to end the month.

If you didn’t make the session today because you didn’t know about it, make sure you join our community to get updates of upcoming sessions.

If you’re interested in seeing what we discussed, or you want to revisit your own questions, here is a full transcript of the chat.

Transcript

hawk

2017-11-28 23:00

Ok, let’s get this show on the road

hawk

2017-11-28 23:01

First up, thanks to you all for joining us today. I’m super pumped about this session – I’m a huge fan of @susanweinschenk’s work and I’ve really enjoyed reading her book this month

hawk

2017-11-28 23:01

(for those of you that aren’t aware, we used Susan’s book _100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People_ as the basis of our theme for November)

hawk

2017-11-28 23:02

And a very big thanks for you @susanweinschenk for taking the time this evening to answer our questions

hawk

2017-11-28 23:02

It’s an honour to host you here today

hawk

2017-11-28 23:02

So for the formal intro:

hawk

2017-11-28 23:02

Susan Weinschenk has a Ph.D. in Psychology, and is the Chief Behavioral Scientist and CEO at The Team W, Inc, as well as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Wisconsin.

hawk

2017-11-28 23:02

Susan consults on with Fortune 1000 companies, start-ups, governments and non-profits, and is the author of several books, including 100 Things Every Designer Needs To Know About People, 100 MORE Things Every Designer Needs To Know About People and How To Get People To Do Stuff. Susan is co-host of the HumanTech podcast, and writes her own blog and a column for Psychology Today online.

hawk

2017-11-28 23:03

If you haven’t read any of her work, I highly recommend that you do. Her writing style is very easily digestible.

hawk

2017-11-28 23:03

So Susan, over to you. Will you please give us a bit of an intro to the topic, which is _How Psychology and Neuroscience Can Support Design_

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:04

Hi Everyone.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:04

Glad to be here with you! From Wisconsin USA

davidbaird

2017-11-28 23:04

Welcome Susan

cmcneil

2017-11-28 23:05

BIG fan. Long time listener. First time caller.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:05

Well, basically I’m ready to talk about anything to do with the intersection of brain and behavioral science, people, technology, and design!

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:05

(or anything else you want to ask me that you think i might know the answer to!)

hawk

2017-11-28 23:06

Well that makes it easy. QUESTIONS ARE GO…

charles

2017-11-28 23:06

I am curious to know if you are aware of any behavioral mimicry being applied with AI and if it crosses the uncanny valley

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:06

ooh, starting with a BIG question!

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:06

I don’t know of anyone using mimicry with AI, but they might be

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:07

Any of the techniques to try to make machines more humanlike you have to watch out for the uncanny valley.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:07

If it’s TOO human like it bugs us.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:07

If it’s not human like ENOUGH it bugs us

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:07

we have pretty narrow tolerance

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:08

The AI and robots I’ve seen make me think that the behavioral scientists haven’t gotten all that involved, but i could be wrong.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:08

it’s typical for new technology — the technology part comes first and the human part comes later

jacqui_dow5

2017-11-28 23:09

I’m wondering if you have any insights on how the observation during a usability test will affect the results? I do usability testing both remotely and bringing people into our lab but have always wondered if they are really reacting and acting how they would if they werent being observed?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:09

The observation is going to affect them. But it might not effect them a lot

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:10

That’s why the skill of the tester is so important.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:10

There are many subtle ways the observer can effect the results.

jacqui_dow5

2017-11-28 23:11

What sort of things should we look out for to stop us affecting the results?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:11

and not so subtle too… i’ve seen testers that nod too much, interrupt too much, tap their pen on the table, sigh, and start scribbling or typing manically after the user takes an action

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:11

I suggest you record YOU and watch the videos with an experienced person who can point out what you are doing that might affect the results

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:12

You can also set up camera feeds and so and leave the room

jacqui_dow5

2017-11-28 23:12

ooh good idea, we often end up in the videos but not so much on purpose

uxresearchguy

2017-11-28 23:12

Hi and often tested with a moderator and separate note taker (or Observers logging things a la Dana Chisnells techniques) to maintain attention and listening

sara.hemmer

2017-11-28 23:13

Nice and agree about the observation and interruptions. But how do you check all biases at the door. So many are intrensic

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:13

you can’t check all of them, but you can try as much as possible. Watch other people run a test and learn from them, record yourself.

jacqui_dow5

2017-11-28 23:13

yes, we try to avoid the moderator taking notes, and have observers in a separate room for this purpose :slightly_smiling_face:

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:13

it helps if you are NOT testing your own design.

kiell

2017-11-28 23:13

hi! late to the party but here from Minnesota, USA

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:13

being an uninterested party helps a lot

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:14

i take on the mindset of a scientist running an experiment.

ashleamckay

2017-11-28 23:14

Hey Susan, love your work! I was diagnosed as autistic just under two years ago and I’d love to hear your thoughts on how we as UXers can help people understand and empathise with diversity that they can’t see? How can I help people understand that my differently wired brain is very real, permanent and not actually a bad thing? Thank you :slightly_smiling_face:

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:14

i don’t know what is going to happen and my job is just to observe and record

sara.hemmer

2017-11-28 23:14

That is helpful. I can avoid expectations, but other biases are so subtle. . .

davidbaird

2017-11-28 23:15

Given that most personalities fall into basic categories, does this affect your research (i.e knowing that people will have certain tendencies for behaviour). Openness Conscientiousness Extraversion Agreeableness Neuroticism

uxresearchguy

2017-11-28 23:15

great and getting recordings audio transcribed for analysis helps in some cases too

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:15

Ashlea — back to the video idea… i find that if people can see and “meet” people (even if only on video) that interact differently that often helps them and reminds them that not everyone is the same.

davidbaird

2017-11-28 23:15

Sorry if that interupted others questions. Ill wait. !

flaxenink

2017-11-28 23:16

question: Are they any typical behaviors among users for a basic testing? like we have for design patterns?

hawk

2017-11-28 23:16

@davidbaird It’s all good – I’m queuing questions

bdevilliers

2017-11-28 23:17

Hi from France, a bit late too :slightly_smiling_face:

jacqui_dow5

2017-11-28 23:18

We record everything using Morae so we can watch back and make more notes but don’t tend to do full transcripts due to time constraints

uxresearchguy

2017-11-28 23:18

hopefully generates empathy

trh20

2017-11-28 23:18

Hi from Cleveland, Ohio!

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:19

Ashlea: I know that autism can be difficult for many, but for many it is more of a difference than a problem. Brain science is showing us that the brain is much more flexible than we thought, and there is research to show that our brains are changing in response to our technology and our environment. Some people with autism are able to see patterns much better than those without. Microsoft has an entire department for pattern work where they tend to hire people with autism.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:19

@davidbaird Given that most personalities fall into basic categories, does this affect your research (i.e knowing that people will have certain tendencies for behaviour). Openness Conscientiousness Extraversion Agreeableness Neuroticism

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:19

I don’t really take much stock in designing for personality traits.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:19

there is so much individual difference in this area, that it’s hard to design for

trh20

2017-11-28 23:20

I like what I’m hearing about autism being different!

anapaulafaria.design

2017-11-28 23:20

Susan technology is helping us measuring emotions. What tools do u recommend? Any thoughts about this subject? Tks!

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:20

with the exception that if you KNOW that you are designing an app for neurotic people, then that would be something you could take into account in your design.

trh20

2017-11-28 23:20

Instead of an”problem”

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:21

many personality traits are situational anyway, and can change depending on mood, time of day, environment and so on

cmcneil

2017-11-28 23:21

Is there anything in your previous books that you would revise, with regard to the replication crisis?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:21

hawk [5:16 PM] @flaxenink: Are they any typical behaviors among users for a basic testing? like we have for design patterns?

rebecator

2017-11-28 23:21

Hello, Susan! Do you have any insight about how the affective computing could improve the online education?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:22

can you say more about what you mean about typical patterns among users for user testing? I’m not sure what you are asking

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:22

@anapaulafaria.design Susan technology is helping us measuring emotions. What tools do u recommend? Any thoughts about this subject? Tks!

ashleamckay

2017-11-28 23:23

The hardest part about being autistic is convincing others that it’s an advantage not an inconvenience and that overall my strengths far outweigh any irritating things I do and say. I am very good at spotting patterns and much more – I’m just a little annoying! hahahah :slightly_smiling_face:

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:23

I think tools for measuring emotions are going to become more commonplace. But we may not be able to get much further for a while than “strong emotion” and “not strong emotion”

dave.d

2017-11-28 23:23

Question: Love your work Susan and I’m an avid listener of HumanTech – I’m a registered Psychologist working in Software development and like to use psychological research to inform some of my design decisions – do you have any research journals or blogs you check regularly with a focus on research?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:24

currently we can use tools that measure brain activity, respiration, galvanic skin response and so on. These are quite reliable and can tell you down to a specific moment whether people are a) paying attention, and b) having a strong emotional reaction.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:25

Is there anything in your previous books that you would revise, with regard to the replication crisis? — yes, there are some studies that I talked about a while back, in my “Neuro Web Design Book” that I don’t talk about anymore

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:25

John Bargh’s work I believe has not been replicated at all so I have dropped it.

uxresearchguy

2017-11-28 23:25

as always ‘it depends’ :slightly_smiling_face:

davidskodt

2017-11-28 23:25

That’s ok, I am a little annoying as well. :relieved:

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:26

It’s hard when it’s a book since it’s not like you can go back and change a blog post that is online!

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:26

but i do try and keep up and I change my keynotes and my workshops to reflect what seems to be replicated and what doesn’t.

vgaizutis

2017-11-28 23:26

In a small shop, the UX designer may also be the one conducting usability tests. There is a perception that the designer won’t be impartial since it’s their design being tested. Let’s say the designer isn’t married to their designs; that they are indeed impartial. How do they convince stakeholders of this when it comes time to review results?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:27

@rebecator Hello, Susan! Do you have any insight about how the affective computing could improve the online education? — can you say more about this one… what in particular do you consider affective computing?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:27

@dave.d Question: Love your work Susan and I’m an avid listener of HumanTech – I’m a registered Psychologist working in Software development and like to use psychological research to inform some of my design decisions – do you have any research journals or blogs you check regularly with a focus on research?

trh20

2017-11-28 23:27

Thank you Susan for your insights. How do you measure emotions changing over time?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:29

Thanks for listening to the podcast! Yes, I follow lots of research journals and blogs. I don’t have a list here off the top of my head, but perhaps I can get a list to our channel hosts and they can publish it after the fact?

hawk

2017-11-28 23:29

Happy to do that :slightly_smiling_face:

hawk

2017-11-28 23:29

I can include it in the transcript

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:29

@vgaizutis In a small shop, the UX designer may also be the one conducting usability tests. There is a perception that the designer won’t be impartial since it’s their design being tested. Let’s say the designer isn’t married to their designs; that they are indeed impartial. How do they convince stakeholders of this when it comes time to review results?

cdenhaan

2017-11-28 23:30

:+1:

davidskodt

2017-11-28 23:30

Hi Susan, So in a talk you gave called “Top ten things you need to know about perception”, you state that negative space is “wasted” because peripheral vision gives us unconscious impressions, but I often read about the importance of negative space for increasing legibility and comprehension. Can you elaborate a little bit on what you think about this, and how YOU think negative space should be utilized?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:31

You can definitely test your own designs IF you are careful to not be attached. To convince others of that — you could try several things: have someone else test one of your designs and record everything so people can see you tend to do the same type of tests as others; be quite critical of your own design in some places, i.e., be your own harshest critic

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:31

Thank you Susan for your insights. How do you measure emotions changing over time?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:32

I don’t think we are very good at measuring emotions changing over time from a pure measurement point of view. The only way we can do it now really is to ask people and then ask again, and ask again, but I do not consider asking people how or what they feel to be very reliable.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:33

So in a talk you gave called “Top ten things you need to know about perception”, you state that negative space is “wasted” because peripheral vision gives us unconscious impressions, but I often read about the importance of negative space for increasing legibility and comprehension. Can you elaborate a little bit on what you think about this, and how YOU think negative space should be utilized?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:33

I wouldn’t have said specifically that negative space is wasted. It’s space on the periphery of vision that is wasted.

hawk

2017-11-28 23:33

We’re at the end of the queue if anyone wants to jump in with a question

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:34

negative space is always important in general, but if you just have big blank areas in peripheral vision that you are not using the power of peripheral vision

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:34

and I haven’t answered the question on affective computing if that person would like to say a little more about that

hawk

2017-11-28 23:35

From @lukcha: If Susan has them, I’d love to hear reader feedback and any interesting stories she’s collected about how designers have applied these #100things to their products to get a meaningful outcome.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:36

I get emails all the time from people who tell me about how they are using the material in the book. I’m always happy to hear from people. It is amazing that so many people are reading the book and trying things out. I get some pretty funny emails too!

mcleanmel

2017-11-28 23:36

What are some principles you use when considering how to design peripheral space to put it to best use?

trh20

2017-11-28 23:37

So to measure emotions changing over time, you would observe, and observe again at a later point in time? Because people usually don’t like change but then grow accustomed to the new design.

jacqui_dow5

2017-11-28 23:37

In your book you talk about there being 4 ways to be creative. Next week we are having a session with stakeholders to gather some requirements for a new project and I was wondering what is going to be the best way to get them thinking creatively? (One is the development manager, and the other is the support manager)

jason.hightman

2017-11-28 23:37

Hi Susan … Could you share your opinion on applications with tons of data to view and/or input. Some tend to try and cram as much as they can into a screen while others prefer to spread things out a bit. Have you seen a trend with users when faced with either scenario?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:37

Peripheral vision is very blurry, so don’t put in a lot of detail. But DO put in peripheral vision: images that show emotion, danger (if appropriate), info that gives the “gist” of where the person is (logo, navigation bar and so on)

anja

2017-11-28 23:38

Hi from Sydney Australia.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:38

@trh20 So to measure emotions changing over time, you would observe, and observe again at a later point in time? Because people usually don’t like change but then grow accustomed to the new design.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:39

yes it’s true that people don’t like change, and they may become accustomed to the new design. I like to use what I call “exploratory research” to find out what people are thinking

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:39

and feeling.

davidskodt

2017-11-28 23:39

I have a philosophical question. There is a trend where we are becoming more introverted through technology, as we get a sense of being social through social media. Do you think this will continue to worsen, and is it a problem that we should be talking more about?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:39

so i set up a scenario and ask them to talk about “the last time you bought clothing online”

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:39

and then have them walk me through a story. within that conversation i can start to explore how they feel

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:40

it’s like being a therapist!

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:40

@jacqui_dow5 In your book you talk about there being 4 ways to be creative. Next week we are having a session with stakeholders to gather some requirements for a new project and I was wondering what is going to be the best way to get them thinking creatively? (One is the development manager, and the other is the support manager)

krisztina

2017-11-28 23:41

In one of your books (I think in the 100 things…), you talk about the limitations of eye-tracking – one of those is that it only captures the central vision – do this limitation still apply? Are there any better eye-tracking devices? Have you used eye-tracking in any of your projects in the last few years? Thanks for your answer!

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:41

now there is a topic that I have changed my thoughts on. — there is new research on creativity that I have in my online course on creativity that unfortunately isn’t in my book.

davidbaird

2017-11-28 23:41

I see people get really caught up in detail when they try to explain their actions, yet do the complete opposite when they actually interact with a product – actions speak louder than words, but how do you trust what a person says they want in a product?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:42

hmm… how to give that info in a slack channel? here’s a really short version… focus on the problem you want to solve or the idea you want to come up with creative approaches to. then forget about it for a few hours or a few days. then pay attention to the ideas that occur “spontaneously” over the next few days

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:42

@jason.hightman Hi Susan … Could you share your opinion on applications with tons of data to view and/or input. Some tend to try and cram as much as they can into a screen while others prefer to spread things out a bit. Have you seen a trend with users when faced with either scenario?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:43

totally depends on the application and context. If it is a call center and people need to have quick access to the info and they are VERY familiar with the app, then put as much as you can on one screen. Otherwise, figure out what people need to know and when and use progressive disclosure to give them what they need at a certain point.

jacqui_dow5

2017-11-28 23:43

How have your thoughts on it changed? And do you have any advice for getting them to think as creatively as possible, not getting bogged down in technicalities and detail

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:44

@davidskodt I have a philosophical question. There is a trend where we are becoming more introverted through technology, as we get a sense of being social through social media. Do you think this will continue to worsen, and is it a problem that we should be talking more about?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:44

I don’t think we are being more introverted with technology. I think we are communicating differently. I’m not worried about it because we are very social beings and will use any technology to be social.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:45

I AM worried about AI and machines taking over.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:45

@krisztina In one of your books (I think in the 100 things…), you talk about the limitations of eye-tracking – one of those is that it only captures the central vision – do this limitation still apply? Are there any better eye-tracking devices? Have you used eye-tracking in any of your projects in the last few years? Thanks for your answer!

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:46

correct. eye tracking measures central vision only. There is no eyetracking machine I know of that tracks peripheral vision. I have worked on projects where others are using eye tracking, but I don’t use it much on my own since I believe the limitations are well… limiting!

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:46

@davidbaird I see people get really caught up in detail when they try to explain their actions, yet do the complete opposite when they actually interact with a product – actions speak louder than words, but how do you trust what a person says they want in a product? (edited)

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:47

Yes, i agree, and basically you can’t just listen to what people say in a product. that’s why you have to do design (not just implement what they asked for), and why you have to do lots of iterative prototyping and testing and be ready to change things when people realize what will actually work

trh20

2017-11-28 23:48

So you have an opinion on how technology use has affected text reading? Can students adapt to both? It’s my sense that they can.

davidbaird

2017-11-28 23:48

Thanks, that makes sense. It’s kind of a combination of bits of ideas, or the genesis of ideas coming from verbal ‘wants’ or feedback.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:49

trh20 [5:48 PM] So you have an opinion on how technology use has affected text reading? Can students adapt to both? It’s my sense that they can. — there is a great book (that I will also have put in the transcript) about how technology is changing how we read. There are people doing research on this.

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:50

the short answer is that we are maintaining our ability to read long narratives, but we are also honing our skills in skimming and scanning.

jo.ingram7

2017-11-28 23:50

Hi Susan, following on from the eye tracking discussion, mouse tracking heat maps (such as hot jar and crazy egg) seem to be gaining popularity as a quick and easy way to see what is working. What sort of weight do you give to these tools?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:51

reading is NOT something we are born with teh capability of. our brains change and “steal” resources from other faculties in order to read. It is an example of our brain’s flexibility

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:51

mouse tracking heat maps show you where people clicked and that can be useful. but you don’t know why, so user testing is always helpful.

bdevilliers

2017-11-28 23:52

Hi Susan, what do you think about mixed reality ? I’m thinking about Microsoft Hololens. Also how would you adapt your design process for mixed reality ?

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:53

I have some guidelines for designing for mixed reality that I have put together. they are in one of our online courses. It’s a great topic and you made me realize I should write a blog post about it!

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:54

The design process for mixed reality is similar to our “regular” design processes

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:54

BUT you really have to take context into account

krisztina

2017-11-28 23:54

What are your favorite user interview questions? (e.g. Kim Goodwin wrote that she likes to ask what the interviewee would do with a magic wand)

hayley.martin

2017-11-28 23:55

has joined #ask-the-uxperts

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:56

my favorites are the ones I use in the exploratory research I mentioned earlier — “Tell me about the last time you….”, “Was it fun?” “What would make it more fun?” “How do you know that the people who own this (product, website, etc) care about you?” and so on

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:56

i find that if i ask open ended questions people open up and end up talking about what is really important to them

hawk

2017-11-28 23:56

4 minutes left. Anyone got anything urgent?

uxresearchguy

2017-11-28 23:57

this has been brilliant

trh20

2017-11-28 23:57

Thank you, Susan!

hawk

2017-11-28 23:58

Ok, this is probably a good time to call it!

sbieleny

2017-11-28 23:58

Thanks Susan!

susanweinschenk

2017-11-28 23:58

Thanks everyone for your great questions and for your support of what we do in our books and podcast and so on!

jacqui_dow5

2017-11-28 23:59

thank you :slightly_smiling_face:

davidskodt

2017-11-28 23:59

Thank you, Susan :slightly_smiling_face:

roslynn

2017-11-28 23:59

thank you for the insights and the inspiration @susanweinschenk!

anapaulafaria.design

2017-11-28 23:59

Tks Susan :ok_hand:

patricia.b

2017-11-28 23:59

Thank you Susan. Greetings from Dublin, Ireland!

jo.ingram7

2017-11-28 23:59

Thanks Susan

krisztina

2017-11-28 23:59

Thanks for your insightful answers!

hawk

2017-11-28 23:59

Thanks so much for your time today @susanweinschenk – respect.

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