About Me
So this is where I tell my story and share my passion for human factors. As all stories have a beginning, middle and end, I will share (albeit quite simply) where I came from, why I am here and what I want to do.
Where I Came From
As a kid, I had a natural instinct to protect and comfort those around me. “You are such a great listener” people would tell me. I was good at helping others through difficult times because I was sensitive to their pain and understanding of their point of view. Naturally, this instinctual persuasion led me to pursue a career in counseling. While helping others with their problems gave me great satisfaction, I became disenchanted with the long, at times fruitless process of counseling. I turned to a different path where I could still continue to improve the lives of others but in a tangible way.
Why I Am Here
In counseling, I might have attempted to undo the long-term irreparable effects of an abusive parent which was out of my control. However, by applying human factors to inform design, I could prevent and ultimately influence outcomes. User experience could be measured by time, level of difficulty and satisfaction or error rates, thus giving me real, actionable feedback to make positive changes. In this field, I can research the effect of design choices and enhance performance and satisfaction. I can also employ my proclivity to thoroughly understand others’ needs in service to creating better products and services.
What I Want to Do
Save time. Save money. Help others. Why do systems and products fail? Was there a breakdown in communication? Did the interface fail to provide a warning? These failures and problems aren’t the usual drama I was used to in counseling. No, these are 100% solvable! I want to continue to learn about human capabilities and limitations to a scientific degree and apply principles of engineering psychology to improve products and services through easy to use technological devices and systems design.
However, according to UX Mag, “ We can approach the challenge of behavior change with the belief that the problem of adoption and engagement can easily be solved with fun interfaces, sleek design, and feature-rich technology. But if that were truly the case, anyone who’s ever downloaded a bestselling diet or fitness app would be rocking skinny jeans and form-fitting t-shirts.”
Designing the next, hottest mobile application can only go so far. A holistic approach to the user experience is the way to go. The latest buzz word is service design, implementing user experience at all organizational touchpoints. Typically the end result would be to maximize customer loyalty and patronage. However, altruistic projects like this one, through ethnographic study and collaboration with community, can address the rampant problem of childhood obesity. This is what energizes, excites and motivates me to action. It would be the dream job.
