Welcome!

Here is an outline to our March 3rd Interface Design presentation on problem solving.  We're still refining this so please be patient!

April, Brendan, David & Laura.

Reading: Britann.htm.  This is an excerpt from the Encyclopedia Britannica Online's section on human cognition about problem solving. It presents a nice summary of the major theories about Problem Solving.

Outline:

What is "problem solving?"

trial and error

insight

systematic thinking

Six steps of problem solving

Relevance of theories about problem solving to interface design

Reading: Davey.htm.   Discusses the relationship between Myers-Briggs personality types and problem solving approaches. The Myers-Briggs personality indicator and its usefulness for problem solving by mining industry personnel:  J. Austin Davey, Bernadette H. Schell and Kim Morrison.  Group & Organization Management, March 1993 v18 n1 p50(16).

Outline:

A sample approach to problem solving: Myers-Briggs personality classifications and individuals' approaches to problem solving.

Relevance to interface design?  Individuals' differences should be taken into account by designers.

How would one take this into account during the design process?

Readings:

Bibliography from Wayne Reeves' LIBR 281 Creativity & Problem Solving course that Laura took last summer (http://witloof.sjsu.edu/courses/281.reeves/28101.htm)

FAQ's on lucid dreaming: (http://www.lucidity.com/LucidDreamingFAQ2.html)

Dr. Jeffrey Mishlove's interview of Michael Ray, Ph.D., about creativity in business, from the Thinking Allowed television show: (http://www.intuition.org/txt/ray.htm)

Outlines:

Overview of CPS (David):

The creative process

Psychological traits & creativity

Tacit & explicit knowledge

Overview of CPS Techniques (Laura):

Description of some creative problem solving techniques

implications for user interface design

class exercise -- try some techniques

This page was last updated on 02/28/99.