I started reading a book about usability in interface design for software engineers. It’s targeted (obviously) at software engineers, but it’s got a lot to contribute for anyone who needs to design something for other people to use.
There was one sentence in particular that made me not only think “that is so true!”, but also made me realise why I haven’t enjoyed my honours research. It was that people, generally, thrive on small successes and their contentment is heavily affected by small failures.
Think about your day. You might wake up with a bit of a headache. You forget to take your iPod with you. There’s a weird cramp in your foot that makes you walk a bit slower, and there’s a line to buy a train ticket, which makes you miss your train… None of these things are necessarily important, but there’s a good chance you will be pretty grumpy anyway.
In context the statement was talking about software design. If a user expected tried to drag and drop a file into the program, or wanted to close the window with a shortcut, but couldn’t, those small annoyances and similar ones would build up to create a grumpy customer.
Biology research is a long, long line of failures, big and small, with the occasional success. It’s really quite depressing, and it takes a level of stubbornness to continue when you’ve lost all faith in your abilities and the value of what you’re doing.
I had a good day today though. I proved that something wasn’t wrong (it’s not as good as proving a solid fact — as much as facts can be proven — but it’s a step forward). I think I’ve shown that some other stuff I did was successful (it’s all a bit technical). I found a referencing style file to use and then figured out how to implement it. I wasn’t as tired or hungry as I’ve been. I had a set-back at the start of the afternoon, but came up with a brilliant plan to remedy the situation (I hope it works!). Plus, it’s only Thursday, so I have a chance to make other things work tomorrow.
I also took this photo of Nico dispensing liquid nitrogen:
I’ve missed the bus I to the station and I’m getting pretty tired, but I think it will be a good evening anyway.
What successes have you had this week?
Nice reading, Kris. Those little things really do make all the difference, be it negative or positive.
For the first three days of this week I had a headache / migraine I couldn’t shift. Waking today without it was such a relief, and I’m more productive as a result.
What was the liquid nitrogen for? I’ve never used that stuff, but it has always fascinated me. Perhaps I can hire someone with a nitro box for the next logo design unveiling. 😉
I was thinking something similar earlier to this earlier today. I like the way you’ve articulated it in terms of small successes and small failures.
My small successes this week: I went to the physiotherapist (I injured my foot two months ago) who said my foot is good enough for me to return to full exercise; I got my son into swimming classes after initially getting the run-around from one pool; I walked to work every day this week!
David, glad to hear that your headache/migraine has cleared.
Cheers David! Yeah, headaches really pull things down. It’s not a huge thing, but it really just makes you want to go to bed and stay there. That’s how I’m feeling this morning.
Liquid Nitrogen was for snap-freezing purified protein to store it at -80ºC. Unfortunately I took longer than I’d hoped purifying the stuff so most of the N2 had evaporated before I got to it. Only froze a few tubes.
Heh, I think some dry ice (frozen CO2) would be a bit safer for special effects. Chuck it in water and it makes some nice fog, but if you touch it you’ll only get a cold burn, it won’t freeze your whole hand off!
Thanks for sharing Tracey! It’s so good to recognise the good things in a week. I think I usually focus on bad stuff (without trying to) and get bogged down. Sometimes the failures outweigh the successes, but sometimes it’s just that the successes have less impact on our mood.
Hope your son enjoys swimming lessons! Does it get very hot (and make people want to go swimming) in Hobart?
Yeah – I haven’t had a particularly ‘successful’ week either (so far), and you’re right; it’s primiarily small things which don’t really matter.
That Liquid Nitrogen stuff…isn’t that how they treat warts sometimes?
Hey Armen, hope your weekend is better than your week!
Yeah, I had a friend at school that had some warts frozen off. Worked pretty well I think.
It almost never gets very hot in Hobart but people go swimming anyway. You just adjust your expectations. It’s not surprising to find people here who think of a day in the low 20s (Centigrade) as hot. I grew up in Adelaide and I never want to go through a summer as stinking hot as the Adelaide summers again, so Hobart suits me well. Sydney’s great in summer, too.
I’ve only successfully killed time this week and I have a database system to deliver end of the week. oouuuh boy……….
Tracey, I guess heat is kind of relative. I work with a guy from Germany who is quite sensitive to and hates the cold!
Good luck goldfries! Still more than three days left in the week. Not nearly over yet 😉