Here's the thing: After the time changes, like it did recently, I drive around for half a year with the wrong time on my car clock. Also, I get extremely frustrated at 2 a.m. (3 a.m. if you look in my car) on Christmas Eve when I'm trying to put together some stupid toy that's supposed to transform from a radio telescope to an easy-bake oven and back. And don't get me started on all the cell phones and blackberries and crap gadgetry that people in airports are constantly monitoring in order to make themselves feel important (What ever happened to quietly reading the Wall Street Journal?). But, then, I am an idiot.
This brings us to World Usability Day, which is tomorrow. The St. Louis Science Center will observe the day (which is devoted to fostering a better relationship between high tech companies and the people who actually use their products) with a digital alarm-clock setting competition and some hands-on displays and other stuff. John Warmbrodt, a UMR graduate student in information science and technology, will demonstrate a video game called “Journey to the Wild Divine," which is operated via a device that detects the heart rate and respiration of the player. Instead of using a joy stick or keyboard, players control events in the game by consciously changing their nervous system activity. How's that for user-friendly? More on World Usability Day.
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