While humanity has put men on the moon, mapped the human genome, and found cures for some of the most debilitating diseases, the scientific, organized understanding of human motivation and behavior has largely remained the undiscovered country. Its seems that the essential, internal human condition has been left to wither, while external, physical aspects of the world have been developed almost beyond the limits of our comprehension. Because of this, immense opportunity now lies before us to revolutionize how we understand ourselves and others, and improve the quality of the world and our lives.

1. Understanding
Us
@dknemeyer
dirk.knemeyer.com
Friday, February 3, 2012

2. I believe the next great frontier of human
endeavour relates to how we understand
ourselves and each other, and use that
understanding to dramatically improve the
quality of the world and our lives.
Interaction designers should be centrally
focused on these opportunities.
The rest of my life will be spent
contributing to these solutions.
Friday, February 3, 2012

3. 1992-1999: Studying and teaching,
to become a philosopher
1999-2001: Ad agency, account side
2001-2002: Management consultant
2002-2004: UX agency, creative side
2004-2010: UX agency, entrepreneur
2010-forever: Improving the world thru
creative production
Friday, February 3, 2012

4. curious
relentless
introverted
serious
creative
controlling
caring
loving
impatient
easily bored
committed
honest
angry
unsettled
authentic
Friday, February 3, 2012

5. Chapter 1
Magic
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14. “I would sooner believe that two Yankee
professors lied, than that stones fell from
the sky.”
- Thomas Jefferson, ~1790
Friday, February 3, 2012

15. “What, sir, would make a ship sail against
the wind and currents by lighting a bonfire
under her deck? I pray you, excuse me, I
have not the time to listen to such
nonsense.”
- Napoleon Bonaparte, ~1805
Friday, February 3, 2012

16. “Rail travel at high speeds is not possible
because passengers, unable to breathe,
would die of asphyxia.”
- Dr. Dionysius Lardner, ~1830
Friday, February 3, 2012

17. “Drill for oil? You mean drill into the
ground to try to find oil? You’re crazy.”
- Professional drillers, 1859
Friday, February 3, 2012

18. “No one will pay good money to
get from Berlin to Potsdam in one hour
when he can ride his horse there
in one day for free.”
- Kaiser Wilhelm I, 1864
Friday, February 3, 2012

19. “It’s a great invention but who would want
to use it anyway?” (on the telephone)
- Rutherford B. Hayes, 1872
Friday, February 3, 2012

20. “(The light bulb is) good enough for our
transatlantic friends...but unworthy of the
attention of practical and scientific men.”
- British Parliamentary Council, 1878
Friday, February 3, 2012

21. “Man will not fly for 50 years.”
- Wilbur Wright, 1901
Friday, February 3, 2012

22. “We don’t know ourselves, we
knowledgable people - we are
personally ignorant about ourselves.
And there’s a good reason for that.
We’ve never tried to find out who we are -
how could it happen that one day
we could discover ourselves?”
- Friedrich Nietzche, 1887
Friday, February 3, 2012

23. Chapter 2
Mystery
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24. What was the moment in your life
that means the most to you?
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26. What was the most awful
moment in your life?
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32. Why do we know the geologic make-up
of other planets, but do not have the tools to
sustain good relationships?
Why do we study sciences we will never use,
but do not take courses about
understanding the self and the other?
Why are at least four world powers
planning trips to Mars, when we have
gaping disparities between our citizens?
Why do we invest so much in technologies
to add to the quantity of our lives, while
essentially ignoring the quality of our lives?
Friday, February 3, 2012

33. Chapter Last
Application
Friday, February 3, 2012

34. “What is the essence of the problem?”
- Marshall Ferdinand Foch
Friday, February 3, 2012

35. Coding is to UI Design...
...as Human Understanding is to
Interaction Design
Friday, February 3, 2012

36. Sciences of
Human Understanding
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Neuroscience
• Endocrinology
• Economics
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59. Interaction designers
should lead this future.
• Make being a “user expert” core
to your professional identity
• Gain at least a survey level
understanding of major fields
• Deep dive into something, and
keep learning
Friday, February 3, 2012

60. Thank you.
@dknemeyer
dirk.knemeyer.com
facio.com
Friday, February 3, 2012