Application Concepting Series No. 1 A publication of FLASHBULB INTERACTION, Inc Also available in .html, “Idea Cards” and 11’’X17” .pdf formats at www.FlashbulbInteraction.com 100 ideas for envisioning powerful, engaging, and productive user experiences in knowledge work By Jacob Burghardt WORKING THROUGH SCREENS [...]... questioning, driving visionary, collaboratively defined strategies for exemplary tools for thought 14 WORKING THROUGH SCREENS FRONT MATTER | FRAMING THE PROBLEM Suggestions for product teams: Use design thinking to expand upon and transform your product’s high level mandates and strategy Continually explore the strategic implications of your team’s most inspiring ideas about mediating knowledge work Make... attentive, focused thinking Surpass workers’ expectations for the potential role of computing in their mental lives Raise the bar in your targeted markets, and with it, the bar for all knowledge work tools WORKING THROUGH SCREENS 17 FRONT MATTER | FRAMING THE PROBLEM + 18 WORKING THROUGH SCREENS FRONT MATTER | FRAMING THE PROBLEM Extensive concepting, based on intensive questioning, driving visionary, collaboratively... useful, meaningful, and valuable onscreen offerings WORKING THROUGH SCREENS 19 FRONT MATTER Table of Contents Preface 24 Introduction: The case for Application Envisioning 27 Primer on example knowledge work domains 46 A EXPLORING WORK MEDIATION AND DETERMINING SCOPE A1 Influential physical and cultural environments A2 Workers’ interrelations and relationships A3 Work practices appropriate for computer mediation... CONTENTS H SUPPORTING OUTCOME EXPLORATION AND COGNITIVE TRACING H1 Active versioning H2 Extensive and reconstructive undo H3 Automated historical records and versions H4 Working annotations 250 I WORKING WITH VOLUMES OF INFORMATION I1 Flexible information organization I2 Comprehensive and relevant search I3 Powerful filtering and sorting I4 Uncertain or missing content I5 Integration of information sources... | INTRODUCTION: THE CASE FOR APPLICATION ENVISIONING tion, accomplishing many knowledge work goals involves turning to a screen, controlling a cursor, entering data, and interacting with well known and meaningful representations of information Looking toward future technologies, it is likely that most knowledge workers will perform at least some of their efforts within the bounds of a similar framework... tools Invite workers to be your collaborators, maintaining a healthy level of humility in the face of their expertise WORKING THROUGH SCREENS 15 FRONT MATTER | FRAMING THE PROBLEM Extensive concepting, based on intensive questioning, driving visionary, collaboratively defined strategies for exemplary tools for thought 16 WORKING THROUGH SCREENS FRONT MATTER | FRAMING THE PROBLEM Suggestions for product... prevention and handling conventions C10 Predictable application states 114 116 119 122 125 128 131 134 137 140 143 20 WORKING THROUGH SCREENS FRONT MATTER | TABLE OF CONTENTS D CONSIDERING WORKERS’ ATTENTIONS D1 Respected tempos of work D2 Expected effort D3 Current workload, priority of work, and opportunity costs D4 Minimizing distraction and fostering concentration D5 Resuming work D6 Alerting and reminding... can become seemingly indispensable in knowledge work At their most visionary, these tools can promote user experiences that provide a sense of mastery and direct engagement, the feeling of working through the screen on information and interactive objects that become the almost palpable subjects of users’ intentions Issues in Contemporary Onscreen Tools Unfortunately, many knowledge work products present... individuals’ roles and responsibilities and creating new opportunities for day to day errors in workers’ practices Introduce new work processes that standardize activities in unwelcome ways When technologies inappropriately enforce strict workflow and cumbersome interaction constraints, these tools can force knowledge workers to create and repeatedly enact unnecessarily effortful workarounds in order to reach... 12 WORKING THROUGH SCREENS FRONT MATTER | FRAMING THE PROBLEM Suggestions for product teams: Ask more envisioning questions, both within your team and within your targeted markets Develop empathy for knowledge workers by going into the field to inform your notions of what your product could become Stimulate conversations with this book and other sources relevant to the topic of mediating knowledge work . www.FlashbulbInteraction.com 100 ideas for envisioning powerful, engaging, and productive user experiences in knowledge work By Jacob Burghardt WORKING THROUGH SCREENS. under- standing and insight. Lay the groundwork for inspiration. FRONT MATTER | FRAMING THE PROBLEM 14 WORKING THROUGH SCREENS Extensive concepting, based