Are you driven witless by distractions? Do you find yourself unable to concentrate because of a constant stream of emails, instant messages, Twitter updates, and invitations to be someone’s Facebook friend? What if the problem isn’t a short attention span? What if the problem is the way computers are designed to subject you to a constant onslaught of screen messages?
Saul Greenberg is a computer science prof at the University of Calgary, and a specialist in human-computer interaction. He thinks we ought to design computers to give us information in the same ‘ambient’ way we get information from the natural environment that surrounds us. Have a listen to the raw interview I did with Saul, and let us know what you think. Should we spread computers throughout our environment? What would your ideal computer look like?
Keep an ear open for the little “skit” producer Liz Bowie and I threw in to the middle of the interview. We decided to take it out of the final version of the show.
Dear Nora Young,
I enjoyed hearing you and Saul Greenberg discussing the nature of “interruptions” and the possibilities of arranging for these pieces of incoming information to be placed and timed more appropriately for our attention.
I was interested particularly in the idea as applied to care of our family and friends who may be at some risk in day-to-day living. I have a 95-year-old aunt and an 89-year-old friend who, although being completely independent and able women, do live alone independently. At the present time, one phones the other once a day to see “whether she’s still alive” (as my aunt puts it). Sometimes this call is not what either particularly wants to do or to receive, but it is their way of ensuring that help could be arranged if the call goes unanswered. (Yes, it is a primitive system of reassurance. Neither uses a computer at all, and there are some commercial aids available, but not inexpensively.)
If, somehow, Friend Mary’s house could simply “do” something in Friend Joan’s house to let her know that Mary is moving around as usual – or provide more or less specific information depending on the subject’s wishes – the improvement to the friends’ lives would be welcome. I would also be very content to receive reports (yes, a flower would be nice) that my relative and my friend are fine, since I’m probably the one who would actually provide any help.
Lots to think about. I love the ideas re interruptions and their appropriate placements around the movement of the recipient of them.
Thanks,
Yvonne
Vancouver