Interfaces

Interfaces

Interfaces can take a variety of forms when placed into the context of workspace design, including the interface between your rear and a chair (!), the online workspace you might use as part of a corporate intranet, your hand and a device that requires some dexterity (such as a PDA, or mobile phone), even the vehicle you drive. In each case, there are a variety of requirements that need to be met, which will differ according to the objects being considered. For instance, the criteria used to evaluate a webpage are significantly different to those used to determine a suitable chair for your body. At Laughing Mind, we are experienced in dealing with a wide range of interfaces and pride ourselves on placing people at the center of those considerations.

By way of example, a website review was required for a Government business enterprise that was responsible for accomodating Defence force members and managing the transition process. ADF members are regularly moving from one posting to another, all around Australia and internationally. As you can imagine, this created significant stress on the occasion of each move, and required contextually appropriate information for each step of the process. By working closely with Defence personnel and their spouses, the site was redesigned to present information according to life event. This provided personnel with only the required information at each step, and allowed them to find appropriate pieces of supporting information when they required it.

Take the time to look around you right now, and think about the range of interfaces you're faced with and using. Think they can be improved? Need help in improving them? Call us..

What works well?

One of the more interesting aspects of the way the internet works (for us, anyway) is the parallel between hyperlinking of content and how the human brain typically works through associated reasoning when linking concepts, ideas and problem solving. There are an abundance of software tools around that build on well established metaphors for navigation. It's difficult, however, to find software that ties in well with how the human brain works. One of the applications we've found that works well across a range of different engagements has been Mind Manager, or versions of Mind mapping software provided by different vendors. We've used Mind Mapping software to:

• Plan Projects
• Iterate information architectures and content classifications with focus groups
• Run workshops and capture the discussions/ brainstorming results
• Structure and generate professional services reports
• Perform personal life planning- eg weddings
• Perform decision assessments and SWOT assessments
• Collect resource archives and organise bookmarks relevant to projects or methodologies

How about you? Got a favourite application that let's you just focus on the work that needs to be done, without being distracted by an interface, or the downtime needed to learn it? We'd love to hear about what works for you- drop us a comment at our Blog..