THE PROBLEM
When it comes to remembering peoples names, I really really suck. This faux pas has left me red faced on more than one occasion. Having shared this dilemma with other people, it seems i’m not the only one.
This was the problem I took upon myself to explore and solve as part of a rigourous UX practice, digging into the social, psychological and neurological roots of our name recalling failings.
When it comes to remembering peoples names, I really really suck. This faux pas has left me red faced on more than one occasion. Having shared this dilemma with other people, it seems i’m not the only one.
This was the problem I took upon myself to explore and solve as part of a rigourous UX practice, digging into the social, psychological and neurological roots of our name recalling failings.
DISCOVERY
As a starting point, and to bring order the the problem, a mind map was sketched out, creating a sort of taxonomy of reasons as to why remembering names is important.
As a starting point, and to bring order the the problem, a mind map was sketched out, creating a sort of taxonomy of reasons as to why remembering names is important.
From this, common themes start to emerge, and with these common themes, user stories are brought to life in quick story boards as to bring context to the problem and help place it in the real world. An illustrative tactic for reminding ourselves of why we are trying to solve the problem, and who for.
From this, common themes start to emerge, and with these common themes, user stories are brought to life in quick story boards as to bring context to the problem and help place it in the real world. An illustrative tactic for reminding ourselves of why we are trying to solve the problem, and who for.
Key user stories come to light, and a shared understanding of why we are tackling this problem emerges.
Key user stories come to light, and a shared understanding of why we are tackling this problem emerges.
Qualitative research was then carried out to both better understand the problem, and see how they were currently dealing with this problem. Did solutions already exist? Are people hacking their own solutions together to help combat this problem?
While the problem existed for many people I spoke to, there appeared to be no real tactic to deal with this problem, or solutions that were expressed didn’t seem to work for them. One lady remarked about making a covert seating plan in an attempt to learn new co-workers names. But it existed as a point of refernece, and not really solving her problem of actively remembering the names of people who she met. Other solutions represented more of an aid to record peoples names. Not helpful at all for remembering.
Qualitative research was then carried out to both better understand the problem, and see how they were currently dealing with this problem. Did solutions already exist? Are people hacking their own solutions together to help combat this problem?
While the problem existed for many people I spoke to, there appeared to be no real tactic to deal with this problem, or solutions that were expressed didn’t seem to work for them. One lady remarked about making a covert seating plan in an attempt to learn new co-workers names. But it existed as a point of refernece, and not really solving her problem of actively remembering the names of people who she met. Other solutions represented more of an aid to record peoples names. Not helpful at all for remembering.
FURTHER RESEARCH
To delve deeper into understanding the problem, further academic research into memory and recall was explored. Memory models were picked apart, looking at how information is passed from our short-term-memory into our long-term-memory. From this ideas started to surface around rehearsal, consolidation, retention and declarative memory.
To delve deeper into understanding the problem, further academic research into memory and recall was explored. Memory models were picked apart, looking at how information is passed from our short-term-memory into our long-term-memory. From this ideas started to surface around rehearsal, consolidation, retention and declarative memory.
New insights and key learnings brought new ideas. The problem that names are arbitrary and meaningless could be addressed. Theory behind working memory, transactive memory, emotional arousal and contextual learning could all be explored and tested through hypothesese.
New insights and key learnings brought new ideas. The problem that names are arbitrary and meaningless could be addressed. Theory behind working memory, transactive memory, emotional arousal and contextual learning could all be explored and tested through hypothesese.
TESTING
5 techniques were formed off the back of the research; rehearsal, spell it, association, linking system and listen.
Next, it was time to test these in the field. I did so by attending a tech meet up called “Digital Pond”, seeking to actively meet new people and learn their names using the above techniques.
5 techniques were formed off the back of the research; rehearsal, spell it, association, linking system and listen.
Next, it was time to test these in the field. I did so by attending a tech meet up called “Digital Pond”, seeking to actively meet new people and learn their names using the above techniques.
Some techinques failed, some were great, some where difficult to execute in real world social situations. An extremely powerful mnemonic technique came to light by mashing two techniques together; a combination of “associating” the name with something that thymed with it, and then “linking” these together to create something abstract, vivid and slightly mad (all great ingredients for remembering, especially when it is conceived by myself). Fot instance, I met a lady called “Beth”, who I instantly rhymed with “Meth”, and I naturally found myself placing her in the popular TV series “Breaking Bad”, wearing a white scientist over, cooking crystal meth. Horrible for her, but the vision was vivid and clear and I was remebring her name no problem. Another example was a delightful lady called Patty DaVilla. I found myself imagining her as a big beef 'patty', lying round a pool with lots of bling, chilling in 'da-villa'. The imagery is so abstract and vivid that I still now, some years on, remember all the names and people that fell victim to this mischevious little technique
Some techinques failed, some were great, some where difficult to execute in real world social situations. An extremely powerful mnemonic technique came to light by mashing two techniques together; a combination of “associating” the name with something that thymed with it, and then “linking” these together to create something abstract, vivid and slightly mad (all great ingredients for remembering, especially when it is conceived by myself). For instance, I met a lady called “Beth”, who I instantly rhymed with “Meth”, and I naturally found myself placing her in the popular TV series “Breaking Bad”, wearing a white scientist over, cooking crystal meth. Horrible for her, but the vision was vivid and clear and I was remebring her name no problem. Another example was a delightful lady called Patty DaVilla. I found myself imagining her as a big beef 'patty', lying round a pool with lots of bling, chilling in 'da-villa'. The imagery is so abstract and vivid that I still now, some years on, remember all the names and people that fell victim to this mischevious little technique
Some techinques failed, some were great, some where difficult to execute in real world social situations. An extremely powerful mnemonic technique came to light by mashing two techniques together; a combination of “associating” the name with something that thymed with it, and then “linking” these together to create something abstract, vivid and slightly mad (all great ingredients for remembering, especially when it is conceived by myself). Fot instance, I met a lady called “Beth”, who I instantly rhymed with “Meth”, and I naturally found myself placing her in the popular TV series “Breaking Bad”, wearing a white scientist over, cooking crystal meth. Horrible for her, but the vision was vivid and clear and I was remebring her name no problem. Another example was a delightful lady called Patty DaVilla. I found myself imagining her as a big beef 'patty', lying round a pool with lots of bling, chilling in 'da-villa'. The imagery is so abstract and vivid that I still now, some years on, remember all the names and people that fell victim to this mischevious little technique
I was finding huge success with this! But it took some practice, and it wasn’t so easy on the spot always. And this imagery worked for me, but perhaps not for everyone. Thankfully, we aren’t all hardwired the same way. So this was a problem that needed addressing. How could we make this process easier and more automatic for people. How could we illuminate these techinques and foster this creative thinking for the individual concerned.
I was finding huge success with this! But it took some practice, and it wasn’t so easy on the spot always. And this imagery worked for me, but perhaps not for everyone. Thankfully, we aren’t all hardwired the same way. So this was a problem that needed addressing. How could we make this process easier and more automatic for people. How could we illuminate these techinques and foster this creative thinking for the individual concerned.
PRODUCT & ITERATIONS
PRODUCT & ITERATIONS
A solution was emerging in the form of;
A solution was emerging in the form of;
“An app that teaches memory techniques, and offers training to use techniques in real world scenarios”
“An app that teaches memory techniques, and offers training to use techniques in real world scenarios”
“An app that teaches memory techniques, and offers training to use techniques in real world scenarios”
“An app that teaches memory techniques, and offers training to use techniques in real world scenarios”
Gamification was employed as a means to maximise enjoyment and engagement through capturing the interest of our users and inspiring them to continue learning. But where gamification can really help our cause, is in the very elements that make these games fun and motivate players to continue playing, and using those same elements in non-game context (meeting new people) to influence behaviour (remebering their names, thus fulfilling the user outcomes; being more respectful, attentive and confident).
Gamification was employed as a means to maximise enjoyment and engagement through capturing the interest of our users and inspiring them to continue learning. But where gamification can really help our cause, is in the very elements that make these games fun and motivate players to continue playing, and using those same elements in non-game context (meeting new people) to influence behaviour (remebering their names, thus fulfilling the user outcomes; being more respectful, attentive and confident).
Paper prototypes were then produced as to test flows and test the way we were onboarding new users. Working in this way allowed us to quickly identify pain points, especially with regards to language and how we were introducing the rules to our games, and the actual games themselves. We breathed life into our paper prototypes by using the POP paper prototyping app to better observe interactivty and flow. We were able to iterate almost immediately after observing behaviour and receiving feedback. Iteration happened quickly; screen flows were refined and commuications were finely tuned, all before significant time was invested in production.
Paper prototypes were then produced as to test flows and test the way we were onboarding new users. Working in this way allowed us to quickly identify pain points, especially with regards to language and how we were introducing the rules to our games, and the actual games themselves. We breathed life into our paper prototypes by using the POP paper prototyping app to better observe interactivty and flow. We were able to iterate almost immediately after observing behaviour and receiving feedback. Iteration happened quickly; screen flows were refined and commuications were finely tuned, all before significant time was invested in production.
After quick rounds of feedback and iteration, Hi-fidelity prototypes started to take shape using Axure.
After quick rounds of feedback and iteration, Hi-fidelity prototypes started to take shape using Axure.
A fun and insightful project, the surface of which was only scratched - by no means a finished article as a whole. But when is it ever. The focus is on learning afterall. If you’re interested in hearing more about this journey, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
A fun and insightful project, the surface of which was only scratched - by no means a finished article as a whole. But when is it ever. The focus is on learning afterall. If you’re interested in hearing more about this journey, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
A fun and insightful project, the surface of which was only scratched - by no means a finished article as a whole. But when is it ever. The focus is on learning afterall. If you’re interested in hearing more about this journey, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
© MICHAEL ZOIDIS, 2018
