Interaction design that saves lives
16 Mar 2010 - 4:23pm
7 replies
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Recently, Scientific American pointed out the power of interaction design to save lives, specifically, by increasing organ donations. (Boldface added.)
For example, rates of organ donation vary widely within Europe, from 100 percent in France and Poland to 17 percent in the U.K. and just 4 percent in Denmark. The difference cannot be ascribed to different cultural views about organ donation but rather whether the country in question has a policy that is opt-in (check this box if you want to donate your organs) or opt-out (check this box if you do not want to donate your organs). "We think we're rational," says economist John Gowdy of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. "But really it's the person who designs the question on the back of a driver's license who made the choice for us."
Here's another example, from Customer Experience Matters, regarding the redesign of hospital crash carts. And Graphic Design Blender shares how graphic design changes in highway signs improved nighttime visibility and lead to faster reaction times.
Here's my question: does anyone else have specific examples of how excellent interaction design can be a force for good in people's lives?
Comments
My friend's parents told him that when the ice-cream van played music, it meant they were all out of ice-cream. :)
Alex -
If you're not already aware of it, you should look at the book Nudge by Thaler and Sunstein. I'm pretty sure it talks about the organ donation example, and also many other examples in the same vein. It's a quick and enjoyable read (ask the members of the LA-UX Bookclub), and is available in paperback.
Hilary
Hilary User Experience
Hilary Bienstock, Principal
hilary@hilaryue.com :: 310.883.5818 :: fax 310.829.2839
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check it out.
Michelle Obama may have no advantage on appearance and stature, but her vogue taste, her control capability of costume and jewelry is really appreciated.The middle-class women around the world have found a new idol having more tiffany jewellery value from her body, age, status, taste.As for the women in high positions, they also finally get a good jewellery icon to imitate.
I recently heard a fascinating talk by Harold Thimbleby here at Swansea Uni about a topic very similar to this. He talked about medical devices and the problems of poor design and how this can lead to errors like decimal point errors...The talk was based on a paper he wrote in 2008;
Thanks for the reference!
you should check out the Stanford Liberation Technology program and BJ Fogg's Persuasion Program (also at stanford). Further, the Austin Center for Design (www.wickedproblems.com) (@jkolko's new school) is all about Social Entrepeneurship (there is saving "a life" and saving "humanity"; you can do both)
-- dave