It seems that there are actually two conversations going on here: one about the Macbook Air and one about the frustration of going around in circles as we discuss the definitions of UCD. This comment is about the latter. I think the problem is far deeper than just trying to define the term UCD (or any other term for that matter). For me it's about defining our profession in terms that make sense to decision-makers within organizations. That is the only way that we will be enabled to function as effective influencers and strategists I became an interaction designer many years ago because I have a passion for this work. I believe that when we do our jobs well we can effect transformation. UCD is not just %u201Canother%u201D alternative to technology driven design. It%u2019s about empowering people through creating efficient and effective tools so they can be at their best. At the end of the day, UCD can make work more efficient, make collaboration and communication better and make education more effective. It does these things by empowering people so they can realize their potential and implement their vision. That%u2019s no small achievement. What do we want? Do we want to be a recognized profession? Can we establish a sound theoretical basis for the work we do? Can we recognize quality and define metrics to measure it? Can we create replicable processes and teach them to others? I believe that the answer to all these questions is %u201Cyes.%u201D We can do these things and we should. There are already efforts underway that we should be aware of. The UPA body of knowledge is doing good work. There is also a really interesting on-line encyclopedia of interaction design at http://www.interaction-design.org/encyclopedia/. There are also many interesting books out there, some written by participants here. Whatever comes next should not duplicate the work that others have done but should support it. If we want to avoid the "Laurel and Hardy syndrome" that Robert Hoekman pointed out, we definitely need to avoid re-inventing the wheel over and over again. That%u2019s just a waste of time. What we need to do is to take our thinking to the next level. I hope that I will meet some of you in Savannah and have the opportunity to discuss some of these issues in more depth. I hope that when we get back, we will be able to continue and expand the conversation using the tools of social computing.
Charlie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24564 ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
