Assignment for the Week of June 7th

posted May 10, 2010 7:49 PM by C Porter

Read: Drive Part Three

Blog: How does motivation translate into technology design and success? Think of an example successful technology, and share how motivation was a factor in its success.

Synchronous Session: Guest Speaker, WebEx on Monday during 6pm Session only. No 9pm session.

Portfolio Activity: Post links to previous classwork that best exemplifies your interests, passions or skills.

Project Activity: Craft an initial timeline & project plan for to leading and implementing the change. Post project plan/timeline to wiki.
Due: 6/21

Motivation translates into technology design and success based on what aspect of the human spirit is to be reflected by the technology.  Facebook for example, was successful because it is a reflection of the human spirit for community.  Wikipedia, a reflection of the human spirit for sharing intellect through generous collaboration.  Google is a reflection of our endless quest for knowledge.  So we should remember this when examining our motivations for designing successful technology.  What aspects of the human spirit do we wish do reflect, amplify and/or proliferate?  Instead of succumbing to tunnel vision around specifications or functions, we should remember the big picture reflection of the human spirit to design successful technology.

To this end, I found A Whole New Mind helpful.  Pink’s “six senses” discourse outlines how design is an asset above function. Story is an asset above argument. Symphony is an asset above focus. Empathy is an asset above logic. Play is an asset above seriousness, and meaning is an asset above accumulation.