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Title:

Designing Experiences in an ADHD Culture

Your vote:
Yes No
Organizer:
Susan Price, Firecat Studio
Description:
Attention Deficit Disorder is increasingly recognized as a cultural adaptation to information barrage. How can experience designers cope with distractability and lack of attention? What do we need to be doing, or not doing, to continue to connect with users amid all the noise? Is there an ADD upside?
Questions
Answered:
  1. Are we all becoming ADHD-like? Why (or why not)?
  2. Why do ADHD cultural effects matter so much in web/online design?
  3. What can we do to counterbalance our ADHD tendencies, and those of our audiences/users/communities?
  4. Should we worry about these effects on a personal level?
  5. Is there an upside to ADHD cultural effects?
  6. What's the downside, really, to ADHD? Won't the important stuff surface anyway?
  7. I've noticed ADHD tendencies increasing in myself and others. Why is that?
  8. Isn't there an actual identified gene associated with ADHD?
  9. How are social networking communities affected by this trend?
  10. How can we use this knowledge to create designs that work better for everyone?
Level:
Advanced
Category:
Web / Interface Design
Type:
Panel
Event:
SXSW Interactive 2009
Susan Price
on 8/8/08
The barrage of information and the exponential growth of messages coming through us are developing attention deficit effects in us all. Here are the symptoms; do these sound familiar?

* Often making careless mistakes when having to work on uninteresting or difficult projects

* Often having difficulty keeping attention during work

* Often having difficulty concentrating on conversations

* Having trouble finishing projects that have already been started

* Often having difficulty organizing for the completion of tasks

* Avoiding or delaying in starting projects that require a lot of thought

* Often misplacing or having difficulty finding things at home or at work

* Often distracted by activity or noise

* Often having problems remembering appointments or obligations

When seated at a desktop or using a handheld device, many things compete for our users' attention.

We'll have an ADD/ADHD expert on hand to explain the physiology, as well as some seasoned interaction designers and visual designers.
Alex Jones
on 11/8/08
I can't wait for this one! I know I fight this issue on a daily basis, so hearing ideas from others dealing with the influx of distractions will be very useful.
Jeanne Spellman
on 11/8/08
This is important for accessibility, as well. I am interested to see the conclusions drawn. I would also like to know the research or experience that this is based on.
Virginia DeBolt
on 14/8/08
Sadly, a needed topic and promises to be popular.
Jay Drayer
on 25/8/08
To build on the point... there's no shortage of gifts and strengths attributable to ADHD types. But today, entrepreneurs are continually faced with more and more incoming information from all sides... putting focus and efficiency at serious risk. A discussion involving techniques and disciplines being used to counteract this ongoing barrage is sure to benefit many. This sounds like a great topic, sure to fill seats.
Maura Thomas
on 25/8/08
We live in a multi-tasking society and it's only getting worse. Millenniums are better at this than those born before 1990. In order to stay competitive, the rest of us need to learn new strategies for dealing with the constant barrage of information. This panel is needed by anyone over the age of 18!!
Steve Harper
on 26/8/08
Looks like a very interesting topic and given that I know what a high quality speaker Maura Thomas is, this is a panel that should not be missed.
Megan Ahearn
on 27/8/08
This looks like a great topic. Looking forward to it, if my overburdened mind can remember!
Ann Tarrillion
on 27/8/08
The ADHD culture discussion needs to include some of the fantastic things that ADHD people bring to the table:
-fountain or AK47 generator of new and innovative ideas
- ablity to take seemingly disparate pieces of information to create a synergistic solution
For this topic, you need our own Chris Sandoval from USAA, holder of numererous patents and (sorry Chris) more importantly someone like Scott Berkin author of The Myths of Innovation.

The key to ADHD success is to be teamed with a non-ADHD person to give “legs” to their brilliance!

Scott Berkin's book talks about the eureka moment comes after years of long work and understanding the problem. ADHD people get these eureka moments all the time because they assemble the info quicker, but the notion gets lost in the inability to finish, or moving on to the latest shiny object.

It’s only through managing my ADD teenager that I can recognize the behavior and the brilliance around me from the ADHD adults.

It would be fascinating to hear from admitted ADHD people on how they finally push their ideas to completion or implementation inspite of their ADHD behavior (which we all know can be self-destructive)
Susan Price
on 28/8/08
thanks, Ann! I contacted Scott Berkun, author of the upcoming book "Myths of Innovation" -- and he's up for being a panelist! This panel will rock, I sure hope it makes. Pass it on to your peeps to vote it up.

Some of the commenters above would make fabulous panelists. I need to make sure I have room for the card-carrying developmental psychologist or psychiatrist or other healthcare professional. Jay sent me a lead on one, if you guys have others, please forward contact info to susan (at) firecatstudio.com.
M4R Converter
on 18/11/09
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