(2014-01-20) Punchkick Ux And Ai Using Artificial Intelligence Research To Build Smart Products

PunchKick: UX and AI: using artificial intelligence research to build smart products

Clifford Nass was a Stanford professor known for his groundbreaking research on human interaction with computers. (Sadly, he passed away three months ago.) He and Corina Yen wrote The Man Who Lied to His Laptop: What Machines Teach Us About Human Relationships, and their position is simple: People treat machines like other people.

Using Nass’ insights, here are six ways to improve user interaction with your app, website, or software product.

1. Handle error messages with care

2. Give your product empathy

Your product can reflect the user’s emotions in small ways. Success or confirmation messages can be delivered in a happy tone, and users will feel happier upon receiving them.

Users will use your product longer if negative experiences are met with emotional support

Optimism can also diffuse negative emotions.

3. Give positive feedback

4. Do your users a favor before you ask them for one

5. Put your product and your users on the same team

Find opportunities to use team-building language. “We’ll figure this out together!”

Use the location detector to find out the user’s location, and use design elements evocative of that place (e.g. the Chicago skyline for users in Chicago).

Write text to match the language style of your user personas

Above all, ensure that whichever voice you choose is consistent

6. Lighten up! Use some humor