go wild that’s what I tell my engineering students as they work to
engineering students as they work to
engineering students as they work to create designs that matter I tell my
create designs that matter I tell my
create designs that matter I tell my students to use their senses and go wild
students to use their senses and go wild
students to use their senses and go wild wild is my shorthand for watch in choir
wild is my shorthand for watch in choir
wild is my shorthand for watch in choir listen and do watch what people are
listen and do watch what people are
listen and do watch what people are doing in choir and listen to find out
doing in choir and listen to find out
doing in choir and listen to find out why and do something use your body and
why and do something use your body and
why and do something use your body and mind to learn experiment go deep and get
mind to learn experiment go deep and get
mind to learn experiment go deep and get creative done repeatedly these simple
creative done repeatedly these simple
creative done repeatedly these simple steps will lead to good design I’m sure
steps will lead to good design I’m sure
steps will lead to good design I’m sure of it
of it
of it why do I believe this I’m an
why do I believe this I’m an
why do I believe this I’m an anthropologist and for nearly 15 years
anthropologist and for nearly 15 years
anthropologist and for nearly 15 years I’ve been teaching engineering students
I’ve been teaching engineering students
I’ve been teaching engineering students how to think like anthropologists in
how to think like anthropologists in
how to think like anthropologists in order to create designs that really
order to create designs that really
order to create designs that really matter if done correctly engineering
matter if done correctly engineering
matter if done correctly engineering starts and ends with people and this is
starts and ends with people and this is
starts and ends with people and this is where engineers can borrow from the
where engineers can borrow from the
where engineers can borrow from the anthropologists playbook we specialize
anthropologists playbook we specialize
anthropologists playbook we specialize in understanding people
in understanding people
in understanding people we specialize an understanding through
we specialize an understanding through
we specialize an understanding through empathy engineer’s focus on creating
empathy engineer’s focus on creating
empathy engineer’s focus on creating systems and products to solve problems
systems and products to solve problems
systems and products to solve problems but what are the right problems to work
but what are the right problems to work
but what are the right problems to work on when an engineer wants to understand
on when an engineer wants to understand
on when an engineer wants to understand a world the world from someone else’s
a world the world from someone else’s
a world the world from someone else’s perspective they take time to get in
perspective they take time to get in
perspective they take time to get in their shoes see the world from that
their shoes see the world from that
their shoes see the world from that other person’s viewpoint and
other person’s viewpoint and
other person’s viewpoint and anthropologists do this by going wild
anthropologists do this by going wild
anthropologists do this by going wild engineers need to do some of this
engineers need to do some of this
engineers need to do some of this if engineers don’t take the time to
if engineers don’t take the time to
if engineers don’t take the time to think in this way and do this kind of
think in this way and do this kind of
think in this way and do this kind of work
work
work they can easily create designs that fall
they can easily create designs that fall
they can easily create designs that fall short of what people need and value it
short of what people need and value it
short of what people need and value it happens a lot it happened to Cindy Cindy
happens a lot it happened to Cindy Cindy
happens a lot it happened to Cindy Cindy is a woman who when she was in her mid
is a woman who when she was in her mid
is a woman who when she was in her mid 60’s she was on vacation and she
60’s she was on vacation and she
60’s she was on vacation and she suffered a catastrophic heart attack as
suffered a catastrophic heart attack as
suffered a catastrophic heart attack as a result of medical complications she
a result of medical complications she
a result of medical complications she lost both her legs below the knees and
lost both her legs below the knees and
lost both her legs below the knees and most of her fingers I learned a lot
most of her fingers I learned a lot
most of her fingers I learned a lot about bad design and good design from
about bad design and good design from
about bad design and good design from spending time with Cindy I met her a few
spending time with Cindy I met her a few
spending time with Cindy I met her a few years ago because I was interviewing
years ago because I was interviewing
years ago because I was interviewing people about how technology impacts
people about how technology impacts
people about how technology impacts their feelings of Independence after her
their feelings of Independence after her
their feelings of Independence after her hospitalization and rehabilitation
hospitalization and rehabilitation
hospitalization and rehabilitation Cindy received a $90,000 robotic hand
Cindy received a $90,000 robotic hand
Cindy received a $90,000 robotic hand the design and engineering of this
the design and engineering of this
the design and engineering of this device is remarkable
device is remarkable
device is remarkable Cindy was very optimistic very excited
Cindy was very optimistic very excited
Cindy was very optimistic very excited to receive this but after going through
to receive this but after going through
to receive this but after going through a lengthy insurance process and
a lengthy insurance process and
a lengthy insurance process and specialized training to use this
specialized training to use this
specialized training to use this replacement limb she found she had no
replacement limb she found she had no
replacement limb she found she had no use for it she doesn’t use it at all it
use for it she doesn’t use it at all it
use for it she doesn’t use it at all it was too cumbersome to use she refers to
was too cumbersome to use she refers to
was too cumbersome to use she refers to it as her Darth Vader hand the inhumanly
it as her Darth Vader hand the inhumanly
it as her Darth Vader hand the inhumanly long fingers are awkward it’s too hot
long fingers are awkward it’s too hot
long fingers are awkward it’s too hot it’s too heavy it’s too robotic looking
it just didn’t meet Cindy’s needs so
it just didn’t meet Cindy’s needs so first of all Cindy really wanted to
first of all Cindy really wanted to
first of all Cindy really wanted to write Christmas cards in her own
write Christmas cards in her own
write Christmas cards in her own handwriting
handwriting
handwriting of course there’s great technology
of course there’s great technology
of course there’s great technology that’s available speech-to-text one can
that’s available speech-to-text one can
that’s available speech-to-text one can communicate but Cindy didn’t want that
communicate but Cindy didn’t want that
communicate but Cindy didn’t want that she wanted her handwriting back and
she wanted her handwriting back and
she wanted her handwriting back and that’s where things got interesting
Cindy’s prosthetist who’s the same
Cindy’s prosthetist who’s the same person who built her two prosthetic legs
person who built her two prosthetic legs
person who built her two prosthetic legs heard her say that she wanted her
heard her say that she wanted her
heard her say that she wanted her handwriting
handwriting
handwriting and what did he do he went wild
and what did he do he went wild
and what did he do he went wild so he watched her use her Darth Vader
so he watched her use her Darth Vader
so he watched her use her Darth Vader hand he asked her questions he listened
hand he asked her questions he listened
hand he asked her questions he listened and then with scrap materials he found
and then with scrap materials he found
and then with scrap materials he found in his lab he made for her a silicon pen
in his lab he made for her a silicon pen
in his lab he made for her a silicon pen holder that slips over her residual hand
holder that slips over her residual hand
holder that slips over her residual hand with that simple device Cindy got her
with that simple device Cindy got her
with that simple device Cindy got her handwriting back and with that she got
handwriting back and with that she got
handwriting back and with that she got back a little bit of her sense of self
back a little bit of her sense of self
back a little bit of her sense of self so then he made a similar device to hold
so then he made a similar device to hold
so then he made a similar device to hold a fork and another to hold a knife
Cindy uses these items every day of her
Cindy uses these items every day of her life they changed my life she says Cindy
life they changed my life she says Cindy
life they changed my life she says Cindy also went wild
also went wild
also went wild Cindy wanted to be able to put on makeup
Cindy wanted to be able to put on makeup
Cindy wanted to be able to put on makeup in the morning without Darth Vader by
in the morning without Darth Vader by
in the morning without Darth Vader by her side so she when she was in rehab a
her side so she when she was in rehab a
her side so she when she was in rehab a rehab nurse reminded her of soft tubes
rehab nurse reminded her of soft tubes
rehab nurse reminded her of soft tubes that are often used when little kids are
that are often used when little kids are
that are often used when little kids are learning how to write you can stick a
learning how to write you can stick a
learning how to write you can stick a pencil in them and it makes it easier to
pencil in them and it makes it easier to
pencil in them and it makes it easier to grip so Cindy did that she took her
grip so Cindy did that she took her
grip so Cindy did that she took her eyeliner put it in a tube and now she
eyeliner put it in a tube and now she
eyeliner put it in a tube and now she can put on her makeup in the morning by
can put on her makeup in the morning by
can put on her makeup in the morning by herself Cindy’s house is filled with
herself Cindy’s house is filled with
herself Cindy’s house is filled with these inventions Cindy and people around
these inventions Cindy and people around
these inventions Cindy and people around her including her neighbors came up with
her including her neighbors came up with
her including her neighbors came up with numerous low-tech low-cost devices for
numerous low-tech low-cost devices for
numerous low-tech low-cost devices for everyday high impact so that hugely
everyday high impact so that hugely
everyday high impact so that hugely expensive robotic and top-of-the-line
expensive robotic and top-of-the-line
expensive robotic and top-of-the-line engineering impressive design really
engineering impressive design really
engineering impressive design really important to many people a lifesaver for
important to many people a lifesaver for
important to many people a lifesaver for many people and see these case it missed
many people and see these case it missed
many people and see these case it missed the mark on Reed letting her reach what
the mark on Reed letting her reach what
the mark on Reed letting her reach what mattered most to her which was
mattered most to her which was
mattered most to her which was independence and a sense of being
independence and a sense of being
independence and a sense of being herself again there really was no place
herself again there really was no place
herself again there really was no place in Cindy’s life for Darth Vader score
in Cindy’s life for Darth Vader score
in Cindy’s life for Darth Vader score one for the rebellion
so unlike Cindy Terry had the benefit of
so unlike Cindy Terry had the benefit of working with a team of engineers who
working with a team of engineers who
working with a team of engineers who think like anthropologists the team that
think like anthropologists the team that
think like anthropologists the team that worked with Terry they went wild and
worked with Terry they went wild and
worked with Terry they went wild and right from the start they designed
right from the start they designed
right from the start they designed something that mattered most to her
something that mattered most to her
something that mattered most to her Terry is a woman who is in her mid 60’s
Terry is a woman who is in her mid 60’s
Terry is a woman who is in her mid 60’s she lives alone and she uses a
she lives alone and she uses a
she lives alone and she uses a wheelchair I met Terry because she
wheelchair I met Terry because she
wheelchair I met Terry because she volunteered to participate in a class
volunteered to participate in a class
volunteered to participate in a class that I co-teach with designers and
that I co-teach with designers and
that I co-teach with designers and engineers where the students design and
engineers where the students design and
engineers where the students design and build something with and for someone in
build something with and for someone in
build something with and for someone in the community so early in their project
the community so early in their project
the community so early in their project Terry’s team heard Terry used the term
Terry’s team heard Terry used the term
Terry’s team heard Terry used the term cabin fever to describe how she feels
cabin fever to describe how she feels
cabin fever to describe how she feels when she’s stuck in her apartment for
when she’s stuck in her apartment for
when she’s stuck in her apartment for too many days in a row one of the most
too many days in a row one of the most
too many days in a row one of the most important tools that an anthropologist
important tools that an anthropologist
important tools that an anthropologist uses is to learn to speak the language
uses is to learn to speak the language
uses is to learn to speak the language of the people they’re trying to
of the people they’re trying to
of the people they’re trying to understand and so the team did that they
understand and so the team did that they
understand and so the team did that they didn’t want to understand they knew what
didn’t want to understand they knew what
didn’t want to understand they knew what cabin fever meant they wanted to make
cabin fever meant they wanted to make
cabin fever meant they wanted to make sure they understood what it meant to
sure they understood what it meant to
sure they understood what it meant to Terry what bothers Terry about being in
Terry what bothers Terry about being in
Terry what bothers Terry about being in the home too long how long is too long
the home too long how long is too long
the home too long how long is too long what does she like to do when she goes
what does she like to do when she goes
what does she like to do when she goes out and with whom what’s preventing her
out and with whom what’s preventing her
out and with whom what’s preventing her from doing that the team looked into all
from doing that the team looked into all
from doing that the team looked into all of that and what they found is that
of that and what they found is that
of that and what they found is that grocery shopping is a highlight of
grocery shopping is a highlight of
grocery shopping is a highlight of Terry’s life she loves to go out and go
Terry’s life she loves to go out and go
Terry’s life she loves to go out and go shopping but she doesn’t do it as much
shopping but she doesn’t do it as much
shopping but she doesn’t do it as much as she’d like to because it’s
as she’d like to because it’s
as she’d like to because it’s inconvenient and it actually hurts her
inconvenient and it actually hurts her
inconvenient and it actually hurts her back because she has to stack her
back because she has to stack her
back because she has to stack her groceries she sits forward on her
groceries she sits forward on her
groceries she sits forward on her wheelchair a little to stack the
wheelchair a little to stack the
wheelchair a little to stack the groceries behind her on the chair so the
groceries behind her on the chair so the
groceries behind her on the chair so the students the team of students went with
students the team of students went with
students the team of students went with Terry to the grocery store they watched
Terry to the grocery store they watched
Terry to the grocery store they watched her take items off the shelf ask people
her take items off the shelf ask people
her take items off the shelf ask people to get things that were up too high for
to get things that were up too high for
to get things that were up too high for her they watched her talk to the butcher
her they watched her talk to the butcher
her they watched her talk to the butcher laughs with a cashier they watched her
laughs with a cashier they watched her
laughs with a cashier they watched her Joe
Joe
Joe around with little children they watched
around with little children they watched
around with little children they watched her take things off the shelf and then
her take things off the shelf and then
her take things off the shelf and then put them back because she realized she
put them back because she realized she
put them back because she realized she wouldn’t be able to carry them home they
wouldn’t be able to carry them home they
wouldn’t be able to carry them home they also tried out her wheelchair to see
also tried out her wheelchair to see
also tried out her wheelchair to see what it was like to stack it up with
what it was like to stack it up with
what it was like to stack it up with grocery bags and they read about the
grocery bags and they read about the
grocery bags and they read about the impact of isolation on older adults and
impact of isolation on older adults and
impact of isolation on older adults and people with disabilities when I told a
people with disabilities when I told a
people with disabilities when I told a friend of mine who’s a traditionally
friend of mine who’s a traditionally
friend of mine who’s a traditionally trained engineer about Terry he told me
trained engineer about Terry he told me
trained engineer about Terry he told me with great confidence that he knew what
with great confidence that he knew what
with great confidence that he knew what the solution would be to Terry’s
the solution would be to Terry’s
the solution would be to Terry’s problems Amazon fresh or any direct to
problems Amazon fresh or any direct to
problems Amazon fresh or any direct to the door delivery service a high-tech
the door delivery service a high-tech
the door delivery service a high-tech solution to the rescue know this is
solution to the rescue know this is
solution to the rescue know this is where going wild makes the difference
where going wild makes the difference
where going wild makes the difference Terry’s team knew to dig deeper they
Terry’s team knew to dig deeper they
Terry’s team knew to dig deeper they knew that getting going grocery shopping
knew that getting going grocery shopping
knew that getting going grocery shopping for Terry was about much more than
for Terry was about much more than
for Terry was about much more than buying food going grocery shopping gave
buying food going grocery shopping gave
buying food going grocery shopping gave Terry the chance to engage with other
Terry the chance to engage with other
Terry the chance to engage with other people to choose make choices about her
people to choose make choices about her
people to choose make choices about her own food and things she wanted in her
own food and things she wanted in her
own food and things she wanted in her house and to feel like an independent
house and to feel like an independent
house and to feel like an independent adult so the team worked with Terry in
adult so the team worked with Terry in
adult so the team worked with Terry in our studio in her home in the grocery
our studio in her home in the grocery
our studio in her home in the grocery store and they designed a rack that
store and they designed a rack that
store and they designed a rack that attaches to the back of her wheelchair
attaches to the back of her wheelchair
attaches to the back of her wheelchair that she can carry her groceries on it’s
that she can carry her groceries on it’s
that she can carry her groceries on it’s purple which is her favorite color
purple which is her favorite color
purple which is her favorite color she can put it on and off herself at
she can put it on and off herself at
she can put it on and off herself at home when she’s at the grocery store the
home when she’s at the grocery store the
home when she’s at the grocery store the bagger loads it up with bags then she
bagger loads it up with bags then she
bagger loads it up with bags then she gets home and unloads it herself
after a month of having the rack Terry
after a month of having the rack Terry told me that she had been out more times
told me that she had been out more times
told me that she had been out more times in the at month than in the previous
in the at month than in the previous
in the at month than in the previous three months now you might be thinking
three months now you might be thinking
three months now you might be thinking wait that doesn’t make sense
wait that doesn’t make sense
wait that doesn’t make sense if she has an efficient rack that should
if she has an efficient rack that should
if she has an efficient rack that should mean fewer trips not more
mean fewer trips not more
mean fewer trips not more but Terry’s going out more because the
but Terry’s going out more because the
but Terry’s going out more because the students made it easier for her to go
students made it easier for her to go
students made it easier for her to go out and more than that the students made
out and more than that the students made
out and more than that the students made it easier for her to talk to people
it easier for her to talk to people
it easier for her to talk to people people are always asking her about the
people are always asking her about the
people are always asking her about the purple rack and Terry loves telling the
purple rack and Terry loves telling the
purple rack and Terry loves telling the story of the work that she did with this
story of the work that she did with this
story of the work that she did with this team to design this purple grocery
team to design this purple grocery
team to design this purple grocery carrying rack so the team knew they saw
carrying rack so the team knew they saw
carrying rack so the team knew they saw a grocery shopping from Terry’s
a grocery shopping from Terry’s
a grocery shopping from Terry’s perspective they went wild and they
perspective they went wild and they
perspective they went wild and they designed a perfect solution to cabin
designed a perfect solution to cabin
designed a perfect solution to cabin fever
fever
fever they watched inquired listened and did
they watched inquired listened and did
they watched inquired listened and did so what does this mean for all of us we
so what does this mean for all of us we
so what does this mean for all of us we can all democratize creativity we can
can all democratize creativity we can
can all democratize creativity we can all learn what matters most to the
all learn what matters most to the
all learn what matters most to the people around us and we can all design
people around us and we can all design
people around us and we can all design and build for that we can all use the
and build for that we can all use the
and build for that we can all use the tools of anthropology to dig in and
tools of anthropology to dig in and
tools of anthropology to dig in and learn about people around us what they
learn about people around us what they
learn about people around us what they value what they want what they have and
value what they want what they have and
value what they want what they have and what they don’t have yet and why not
after spending time with Cyndi and Terry
after spending time with Cyndi and Terry my students told me that it changed
my students told me that it changed
my students told me that it changed their views of people in their own lives
their views of people in their own lives
their views of people in their own lives one student said it changed her
one student said it changed her
one student said it changed her understanding of her own grandfather so
understanding of her own grandfather so
understanding of her own grandfather so as he grew older her grandfather stopped
as he grew older her grandfather stopped
as he grew older her grandfather stopped climbing mountains and started canoeing
climbing mountains and started canoeing
climbing mountains and started canoeing the student was disappointed she thought
the student was disappointed she thought
the student was disappointed she thought he had given up on something he loved
he had given up on something he loved
he had given up on something he loved but after going wild in my class she
but after going wild in my class she
but after going wild in my class she started to see hiking and canoeing from
started to see hiking and canoeing from
started to see hiking and canoeing from her grandfather’s perspective they were
her grandfather’s perspective they were
her grandfather’s perspective they were both activities that allowed him to
both activities that allowed him to
both activities that allowed him to achieve the same goal which is enjoying
achieve the same goal which is enjoying
achieve the same goal which is enjoying the outdoors but canoeing became easier
the outdoors but canoeing became easier
the outdoors but canoeing became easier for him because as he grew older he had
for him because as he grew older he had
for him because as he grew older he had experienced physical changes and it was
experienced physical changes and it was
experienced physical changes and it was easier to canoe that’s what practicing
easier to canoe that’s what practicing
easier to canoe that’s what practicing empathy does and we can all do this this
empathy does and we can all do this this
empathy does and we can all do this this isn’t just the work for expert engineers
isn’t just the work for expert engineers
isn’t just the work for expert engineers and
and
and apologists let’s all go wild in our own
apologists let’s all go wild in our own
apologists let’s all go wild in our own lives look around you who do you know
lives look around you who do you know
lives look around you who do you know who’s having trouble doing something
who’s having trouble doing something
who’s having trouble doing something they really want to do do you really
they really want to do do you really
they really want to do do you really know what they want and why the answers
know what they want and why the answers
know what they want and why the answers can come in unexpected places and they
can come in unexpected places and they
can come in unexpected places and they can come to any of us who take the time
can come to any of us who take the time
can come to any of us who take the time to see and to understand so don’t assume
to see and to understand so don’t assume
to see and to understand so don’t assume you know what people want instead pause
you know what people want instead pause
you know what people want instead pause and listen to the clues people give us
and listen to the clues people give us
and listen to the clues people give us as they reach for what matters most
as they reach for what matters most
as they reach for what matters most we all deserve that thank you
we all deserve that thank you
we all deserve that thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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