if you reframe the traditional view of how the cortex is organized. As I mentioned, the primary visual cortex has typically been thought of as the region that processes input from the eyes. But what if instead it was a region that processed information about shape, no matter what organ that information came from? Most of the time, shape information comes from the eyes, but sometimes—such as in this experiment—it can come from touch. Similarly, the primary auditory cortex might not be tailored for interpreting sounds, per se, but rather frequency information of any kind, including but not limited to sounds.
This is interesting stuff indeed. Shape is processed in the visual cortex but with input from other senses. The same is true of frequency, be that sound or taps on the skin.
For us designers it allows us to move beyond the sense we can interact with, vision and sound. Movement and animation can help us tap into other ‘senses’.
The Psychology of Waiting, Loading Animations, and Facebook
Not sure I agree with the conclusion but interesting none the less.
Science is not the Enemy of the Humanities
Wonderful essay from Steve Pinker.
Just fifteen minutes of mindfulness meditation can improve your decision making
Chill out and be a better designer.
Just fifteen minutes of mindfulness meditation can improve your decision making
“I’m a Mac” versus “I’m a PC”: Personality Differences between Mac and PC Users in a College Sample – Nevid – 2013 – Psychology & Marketing – Wiley Online Library
Mac people are less open to new experiences…
“Personality traits may have more nuanced effects on brand choices, as shown by relationships between Neuroticism and greater importance placed on cost and lesser importance placed on ease of use. Openness to Experience was associated with greater importance placed on reliability and lesser importance placed on style.”
The Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction, 2nd Ed
A great academic resource for Human Computer Interaction (HCI)
If you’ve read my book you’ll know HCI is the academic arm of UX and incorporates elements from cognitive psychology.
To be a designer means to be creative and it’s hard to be creative without finding pleasure in our work.
“Alain de Botton examines our ideas of success and failure — and questions the assumptions underlying these two judgments. Is success always earned? Is failure? He makes an eloquent, witty case to move beyond snobbery to find true pleasure in our work.”
(via Alain de Botton: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success | Video on TED.com)
