Final Reflection

Before this class, I had no foundational knowledge of behavioral psychology other than nudges. I knew that changing a behavior had to be relatively easy, like being weaved into a preexisting routine, but that’s about it.

I came into this class having worked on several engineering design teams for class projects. As product manager, I was developing an app in a team in CS 147 concurrently. There were many things about CS 247B that I adored, such as Christina’s energy, Nina occasionally stopping by our table, and the hybrid learning structure. But I think the main takeaway I have come out of the class with is that as a designer, it’s very important to consult with an industry veteran (like Christina) to identify possible unethical repercussions early on. Design is iterative, and with this approach there is no fear in going back to make changes to the product.

I also learned the importance of drawing. Through Deb Aoki’s guest lecture as well as the frequent submission of sketchnotes, I stopped looking at sketching or doodling as something just for kids. This class taught me so much about how drawing in design is the best and fastest way to communicate your idea to a group of people, and knowing how to draw is essential yet simpler than we think. To be a successful designer is to be an effective communicator, and knowing this has caused me to practice my drawing big time.

Ethically, I think the biggest issue Remindful could face as a product is one concerning data security and privacy. Users are instructed to upload identifying information (photos, birthdays, first name) of family members they would like to keep in touch with. While these details, especially the photos, are crucial to evoking emotional response and use of the app, how can we ensure the data will be kept secure? As a potential user, I would be a bit hesitant to be sharing a family tree with photos of family members who prefer to be as off-the-grid as possible. It would be a nightmare to have someone be able to access that information from the internet. Even though I am a CS major, I am yet to learn about how data is stored and kept “safe”. I do not want to promise a robust data security system to users of Remindful when I am not even sure how it works. I suppose using external data security products that service other big apps is the way to go.

Coming out of this class, I now have a more formulaic approach to changing behavior which is extremely helpful. I understand myself better every time I find myself stuck in a pattern that is not best for my wellbeing. Next time when faced with a similar situation, I can and am able to direct my friends to B = MAP at the very least when they are looking to kick a bad habit. There are many behaviors I have that I would ideally like to change, but lack the time and energy to. But knowing that I can start by simply making little adjustments to a preexisting routine to build tiny habits is a great improvement on my quality of life. 

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