As designers, we strive to give people what they need before they need it. The best products anticipate people's needs and deliver solutions with meaningful context. But in the future, will we take anticipation too far? What is the role of automation? How will it impact our lives? What principles should we consider as we design experiences in the future?

1. 1
FINDING BALANCE BETWEEN
ANTICIPATION & AUTOMATION
IN DESIGN
@sarahdoody
Sarah Doody
October 19, 2016
sarah@sarahdoody.com

2. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design

3. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design

4. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
I realized that the
narrow stairs must
have been a fast lane,
how brilliant!

5. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
You know what’s
actually delightful?
When a product
solves a problem.

6. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design

7. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
“Your imagination is great. You can
use this as a fast lane, but that’s
not it’s primary purpose … I know,
I’m a parent in Stockholm.”

8. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
“The fast lane is actually a
staircase where you can push your
baby carriage, not for stressed
Swedes. Sorry for crushing your
designer dreams.”

9. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Photo: susannahfox.com Photo: cyclehoop.com

10. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
“The fact that you got the purpose
of those stairs wrong shows that,
just as beauty, the problem is in
the eyes of the beholder.”

11. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
ANTICIPATORY
DESIGN

12. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
If you’re not anticipating people’s
needs, then you’re doing it wrong.

13. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design

14. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design

15. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design

16. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Am I registered?
How do I register?
How do I vote?

17. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Aaron Shapiro
CEO of HUGE
The Next Big Thing In Design?
Less Choice
In the future, design around us will sweat the small stuff.

18. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Our lives aren’t actually made
easier because we’re still forced
to make a decision.

19. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design

20. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design

21. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
DECISION FATIGUE

22. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
35,000 17 30
decisions
made daily
checks of social
media daily
checks of a mobile
phone daily
* 157 for millennials

23. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
So … what can save us from
decision fatigue?

24. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Decisions are made and executed on behalf of the user.
The goal is not to help the user make a decision, but to
create an ecosystem where a decision is never made --
it happens automatically and without user input.
Aaron Shapiro
CEO of HUGE
Anticipatory design is fundamentally different:

25. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
The Nest Learning Thermostat learns
from you, creates a schedule, and is
proven to save energy.
Image: Nest.com

26. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
6:30 AM 11:00 PM8:30 AM 5:00 PM
rise & shine out for the day welcome home sweet dreams
Images: nest.com

27. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
BUT … will we take
anticipatory design too far?

28. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
In an anticipatory world …

29. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
LONDON

30. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Your flight’s
booked.
Bon Voyage!
meals times seat redeye no stops
7:30pm 8:00am

31. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
22 mile run
35th birthday
But I had other plans in mind ….
THUR FRI SAT
10:40pm 10:00am
SUN, OCT 23, 2016

32. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Can anticipatory design accurately
choreograph around all the little details
of our lives?

33. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design

34. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Am I supposed to
be somewhere?
“

35. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
I love my anticipated and
automated life.

36. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
But I don’t think we can
(or should) automate everything.

37. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
3 cautions to consider

38. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
What happens when
anticipation is inaccurate
and automation fails?
ACCURACY
01

39. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
01
auto-pilot consequences?

40. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
01
pilots only fly for 3 min

41. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
From 2000 - 2010, pilot error had
been involved in two thirds of all
airline crashes.
- FAA report from 2010

42. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
If automation fails, can the user
easily step in and course correct?

43. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
FUTURE
INNOVATION
02
Who becomes the
observer? Who is the
orator of improvements
and new ideas?

44. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
who will connect the dots?

45. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Replacing robots with humans
helped Toyota shorten the
production line by 96% in 3 years.

46. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Machines can do things over and over.
People can do things over and better.

47. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
HUMAN
EXPERIENCE
03
What becomes of the
human experience if
decisions are made for us?

48. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
We find satisfaction in the struggle. We
get in a zone of focus and seek to
overcome challenges.

49. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
03
source of fulfillment?

50. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
03
will anticipatory design and
automation rob us of fulfillment?

51. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
5 considerations for
anticipatory & automated
design

52. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Anticipate people’s needs,
but don’t invade them.
01
DO NOT
INVADE

53. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Always give people a way
to take back control and
reverse a decision.
02
NEVER TAKE
AWAY FULL
CONTROL

54. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Focus on the curation of
choices, not quantity of
choices.
03
REDUCE
COMPLEXITY
WITH
CURATION

55. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
Build trust with every
action. Create a system of
give and take.
04
EARN TRUST
OVER TIME

56. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
05
YOU =
DECIDER IN
CHIEF Today you’re not just a
designer, you’re a decider.
Know when to make decisions for your
user and when to let them be the decider.

57. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
ANTICIPATE AUTOMATE
How will you balance the line
between anticipation and
automation in your product?

58. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
TRIGGER
QUESTIONS
Discuss an experience when a
product anticipated your needs
and it was a positive experience.
A negative experience?
Do you notice decision fatigue?
How does it affect you? How do
you deal with it?

59. @sarahdoody INTERACT LONDON 2016Finding Balance Between Anticipation & Automation In Design
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60. © 2016 www.sarahdoody.com Storytelling in Product Development
THANKS!
PLEASE SAY HELLO.
@sarahdoody
sarah@sarahdoody.com
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