hippo - the human focused digital book
TRANSCRIPT
Hippo The Human Focused Digital Book.Pete Trainor with Luke Shipman
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Hello, I’m Pete.The Accidental Polymath.I never set out to write a philosophy book, or any kind of book. It just sort of happened. That’s the greatest gift we all have — the curiosity to explore new things. To think differently. To be brave.
Da Vinci was a polymath who understood the necessity to study broadly and not locally and that in mastering an area or field that may appear disconnected to one’s main sphere, we can in fact develop further knowledge within the main. His message was not only to study the science of art, but also – the art of science.
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IntroductionDue to the way civilisations progress, we are about to zip-line and observe more change in the next ten years, than of the last hundred. But how do we prevent this acceleration from eroding away our humanity? As technology becomes increasingly immaterial, ask this: does the product you’ve created add more layers of confusion? When we strip away all the technology, what are we left with? The same thing we started with — people.
Incorporating the psychological and philosophical fields into the design process, Pete Trainor takes us back to the fundamental questions, that drive us, and through a journey of design thinking, he asks one simple question, the one we have asked through all times… why?
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1. Design and Humans
A holistic approach to human-focused digital involves a consideration of human psychology and behaviour. What makes us human? It is a question we must return to if building for the long-term is our motivation. Design more… or design better? Something’s gotta give. Cop
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2. The Human Approach
In the future, design needs to consider the dynamics of human emotion and the influence of our environment equally with technology and digital progress. Then we can focus on servicing what people need, instead of what we think they need. Cop
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3. Narcissus, IAD and the Megacity
Digital innovation should encourage human interaction of all kinds, rather than domination by technology, because communication builds community. It’s time to lose the touchscreen and delve into solutions that satisfy the needs of the human condition. Cop
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4. Humans as Scaredy-cats. Fear or CBT?
When designers set out to create solutions, they often fail to address the fears of the person who will use the product. Using psychology and cognitive behavioural therapy in our approach to design, we can anticipate the conditions that lead to fear and encourage desirable behaviours instead. Cop
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5. The Fundamental Questions
We are able to question our existence and adapt but increasingly we can design technology that connects and adapts to our requirements using artificial intelligence. In order to support human needs, designers need to think more human. Cop
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6. Thinking More Human Being
We may think we know how humans behave but using technology and a systematic analysis, we are able to confirm it, and then examine further, the effects that technology has on our behaviour – compared with our projections. It is time to harness and anchor in technology to elevate us, lift us, and to help us reach our potential. Cop
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7. People Learn Thought Aristotle… and Question, Thought Socrates
Learning is a permanent change in behaviour and is influenced by reinforcement, shaping and punishment. In order to create a successful product, designers should use Socratic questioning and empathy to explore how their changes make people feel. Cop
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8. People Like to Connect(and be Happy)
People enjoy human interaction and technology that helps them to connect socially. Being social means sharing information, experiences and emotions as well as choosing who we connect with. Cop
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9. People Like To Have Fun(and be Really Happy)
There are physical reasons for our addiction to technology. We learn to anticipate the chemical rewards our brains give us, which governs our future behaviour. Cop
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10. Taoism 2016
Humans are naturally inclined to learn, socialise and have fun, which includes finding meaning. By practising these things regularly, habits are formed and beneficial changes in behaviour occur. Cop
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11. We’re Not Digitising Behaviour; We’re Behaving in a Real WorldThe perception is that technology is taking over our lives in a bad way and it ain’t necessarily so. In designing technology for the future, we should be aiming for a desirable interface that enhances and facilitates our experience. In so doing, it should not be an object to admire but a seamless part of our existence. Cop
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12. If Socrates Had Siri…The Future…
To integrate tech comprehensively into our lives, our devices must understand our emotions. As humans we learn to interpret cues to emotions from birth. We can use analytics to help machines develop and exceed our abilities. If we use this potential wisely, we will benefit from a world created by AI. Wisely being the operative word. Cop
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13. The Cave
There is enormous potential for the technology we use to aggregate data about our behaviour and to share it – and use it to personalise our experiences. In this way, an omnipresent technology has the potential to free us from our caves. The revolution will not be televised. It will just happen – if we let go of fear, and harness technology once and for all, for the benefit of the whole. Cop
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Hippo is available to buy from Amazon, in Europe, the U.K and the U.S.
Click to buy on:
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About the authorsPete Trainor www.nexus.design / @petetrainor
Pete is a digital designer, public speaker, accidental polymath and founder of Nexus Design in London. He speaks globally on creative and social technologies and the physiological and psychological effects on their audiences. Pete regularly appears in UK national and international press as an analyst on digital media, creative industries, emergent technologies, and tech markets. A vocal mental health campaigner, he calls for better use of technology to help men, women, children and teens in moments of crisis.
Pete has a very simple mantra: don't do things better, do better things.
Luke Shipmanwww.uk-ghostwriter.com / @ghostwriter_uk
Luke is a writer and filmmaker from Wales. After ten years freelance writing, he now specialises in ghostwriting and co-authoring books. He holds an MA in Scriptwriting.
Luke believes that story is part of who we are, and that everyone has one that is unique.
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Don’t do things better.Do better things.Paperback ISBN 978-0-9955361-3-5E-Book ISBN 978-0-9955361-2-8
Cover Art by Jamie Twyman - www.twymandesign.com
First published in Great Britain in 2016 by Nexus CX Ltd
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the authors.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information for business owners. It is sold under the express understanding that any decisions or actions you take as a result of reading this book must be based on your commercial judgement and will be at your sole risk. The author will not be held responsible for the consequences of any actions and/or decisions taken as a result of any information given or recommendations made.
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