Rachel Plotnick

I know there are regulators that are starting to do this kind of work. I just saw in the EU that they're actually requiring cars go back to having physical buttons instead of touchscreens for things like turn signals and windshield wipers. And so I think we're going to see more legislation like that, maybe more standardization of things, especially in safety situations.

I know there are regulators that are starting to do this kind of work. I just saw in the EU that they're actually requiring cars go back to having physical buttons instead of touchscreens for things like turn signals and windshield wipers. And so I think we're going to see more legislation like that, maybe more standardization of things, especially in safety situations.

Um, I've also talked to people about things like defibrillators and CT scanners and x-rays, you know, medical situations when you have to push a button. And it seems like anytime life or death is involved or people's wellbeing is at stake, probably a touchscreen is not going to be the right way to go because it's going to involve a lot more, you know, machinations to do that.

Um, I've also talked to people about things like defibrillators and CT scanners and x-rays, you know, medical situations when you have to push a button. And it seems like anytime life or death is involved or people's wellbeing is at stake, probably a touchscreen is not going to be the right way to go because it's going to involve a lot more, you know, machinations to do that.

And I do know that studies have shown that it just takes longer to push buttons on touchscreens, you know, even simple things takes more time than when you're reaching for a physical button. So I wish I had a list of best practices. I do think a lot of it is situation specific.

And I do know that studies have shown that it just takes longer to push buttons on touchscreens, you know, even simple things takes more time than when you're reaching for a physical button. So I wish I had a list of best practices. I do think a lot of it is situation specific.

There's a decision tree for you. It's just could James Bond do it or not? And then, you know.

There's a decision tree for you. It's just could James Bond do it or not? And then, you know.

You just figured it out.

You just figured it out.

And so, yeah, it's almost like it has to be made more complex in certain situations and simpler in other ones, like the defibrillator case. A lot of people, these are automatic defibrillators that are installed in places, AEDs, like in shopping malls or in a city that

And so, yeah, it's almost like it has to be made more complex in certain situations and simpler in other ones, like the defibrillator case. A lot of people, these are automatic defibrillators that are installed in places, AEDs, like in shopping malls or in a city that

So that, you know, you could administer for a state if someone's having a heart attack right in front of you and they want average citizens to do it. But they found that a lot of people are just too anxious to push the button because they're so worried, you know, hey, what's going to happen if I, you know, electrify this person? I don't want to push the button.

So that, you know, you could administer for a state if someone's having a heart attack right in front of you and they want average citizens to do it. But they found that a lot of people are just too anxious to push the button because they're so worried, you know, hey, what's going to happen if I, you know, electrify this person? I don't want to push the button.

So, you know, they were trying to figure out how do we make this simplistic enough that people won't be afraid to actually use it. In other cases, it's like, all right, let's put 15 layers of security around this thing so that people will be dissuaded from using it.

So, you know, they were trying to figure out how do we make this simplistic enough that people won't be afraid to actually use it. In other cases, it's like, all right, let's put 15 layers of security around this thing so that people will be dissuaded from using it.

You know, I like to keep people guessing a little bit, I guess, but they're actually not as far afield as they seem. You know, I've always been interested in interfaces and just thinking about how people... interface more, you know, metaphorically with their devices. And I guess maybe this project emerged out of the pandemic and also having children.

You know, I like to keep people guessing a little bit, I guess, but they're actually not as far afield as they seem. You know, I've always been interested in interfaces and just thinking about how people... interface more, you know, metaphorically with their devices. And I guess maybe this project emerged out of the pandemic and also having children.

But I got really fascinated by kind of messiness and care and how we have to negotiate our devices in all these situations. Like what happens when you spill coffee on your laptop keyboard? What happens if you drop your phone in the toilet? What about wanting to take your smartwatch in the shower? Or, you know, if you start sweating with your Fitbit, things like that.

But I got really fascinated by kind of messiness and care and how we have to negotiate our devices in all these situations. Like what happens when you spill coffee on your laptop keyboard? What happens if you drop your phone in the toilet? What about wanting to take your smartwatch in the shower? Or, you know, if you start sweating with your Fitbit, things like that.