Final 247 Reflection
Tara Jones–Team 4
As someone who had never deep dived into the world of HCI before, taking CS 247B was a daunting challenge for me. However, it turned out to be an incredibly rewarding experience that allowed me to explore the complexities of creating a project from scratch and collaborating with a group. Being a systems engineer, taking a winter quarter of only HCI classes was a huge leap in content for me, but it also provided me with the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and expand my skill set beyond what I thought was possible.
Prior to taking this class, I never gave much thought to behavior change or the design process. However, the aspects of the class that changed this for me were the lectures: I LOVED them. The engaging content, along with the pace and culture of the classroom, made for an enjoyable and relevant learning experience. Learning about behavior change and its implications in the tech industry was incredibly valuable for my future as a developer.
On the other hand, I did find the emphasis on group work to be challenging. Although this was a personal preference and not necessarily something that the class was doing wrong, coordinating and committing to a large project over just 10 weeks was certainly a difficult task. Nonetheless, working in a group taught me a lot about the importance of communication and collaboration in a professional setting. I feel my team members did a great job of collaborating.
One of the biggest surprises for me during the course was how much I enjoyed the drawing assignments. Initially, I was intimidated by the prospect of drawing, but I found that it helped me to think more creatively about how I take notes and organize my thoughts. Having the opportunity to practice my drawing skills was a bonus that I didn’t expect in this course. .
In terms of the ethical considerations of the class, the section on nudging and manipulation was particularly thought-provoking for me. It really made me reflect on the acceptability of the methods that companies use to persuade us, and what factors influence my own preferences when it comes to using certain apps or services.
One particular example that stood out to me was the contrasting experiences I had using Strava and Duolingo. With Strava, I appreciated the way they promoted their premium features. I was never bombarded with pop-up ads or notifications about the premium version, and the features that were available with the basic version were enough to use a viable product. However, the premium features were also marketed in a way that made me feel like they were a valuable upgrade, rather than a necessary one.
On the other hand, with Duolingo, I found their tactics for promoting their premium features to be too manipulative for my liking. I often felt pressured into paying for the premium version, as certain features that I relied on for my course were only available with a subscription. This truly took away from my experience on the app, for often I was hindered in my efforts by the existence of a subscription mode.
Overall, the discussions on nudging and manipulation in CS 247B helped me to better understand my own preferences when it comes to app design and marketing tactics. I now appreciate the importance of creating a positive user experience that balances the promotion of features with an emphasis on the value that basic features can offer.
After the class, I now see how important design is, and I recognize the significant impact that it can have on behavior change and user experience. Next time I work on a software project, I will approach it with a newfound appreciation for the design process and a deeper understanding of the importance of inclusive design, drawing, iteration and user feedback.
On another note, thank you for a great quarter! Christina–I love your teaching style! You are a wonderful lecturer and I hope to take more classes with you. And to the teaching team–thank you for the incredibly detailed feedback every week. I can tell yall put a lot of effort into making our project shine!!
