UI/UX Articles and Interesting Tidbits of the Week
December//16//2022
Here are some interesting finds on UI/UX of the week!
1.
Chatbot that Negotiates Bills. Fascinating article from The Verge and author Emma Roth on a AI powered chatbot which has the capabilities to actually negotiate bills. In the example highlighted in the article, the the CEO from the organization DoNotPay, Joshua Browder, demonstrates how the chatbot interacts with a customer representative from Comcast. It’s a representation of the evolution of AI and natural language processes (which includes of course, Automated Speech Recognition, User Response, Speech to Text and Semantic Analysis). Well worth reading through and seeing the accompanying video. Highlight of the article includes:
“DoNotPay’s bot issues convincingly human-like answers throughout the entire interaction with Xfinity, save for a hiccup where the tool says “[insert email address]” instead of providing the customer’s actual email. Browder tells The Verge that DoNotPay will clean up some of its responses before it goes live — and make the bot sound less polite, as it’s pretty heavy on the “thank-yous.””
2.
How to Answer UX Job Interview Questions. Hailing from the always reliable and pertinent Nielsen Norman Group and in this particular article, author Evan Sunwall, this is a very insightful look at the types of questions Product Design professionals face when going through interview processes. The article showcases examples of Behavioral and Situational questions, alongside a succinct explanation of how to use the STAR method to shape responses (that acronym stands for Situation, Tasks, Actions, Results). The article also sheds light on using the Meteor method (this acronym stands for Muse, Enquire, Theorize, Endeavors, Outcomes and Recap), and also references storytelling techniques to better illustrate what the questions are trying to gather or illustrate. Well worth reading through as everyone goes through interview processes, and these reflections are well worth considering. Highlight of the article includes:
“Situational questions confront you with a hypothetical scenario and probe your default intentions and responses. These questions emphasize job knowledge and help prospective employers evaluate whether your problem-solving approach aligns with their expectations and preferences. Situational questions often pose a dilemma that, to be solved, will require tradeoffs, working within constraints, crafting plans, awareness of common business goals, or understanding people. Although situational questions and whiteboarding design exercises are not identical, situational questions are often the basis of whiteboarding exercises or case studies where the interviewer assesses your tactical thinking via a contextual challenge.”
3.
Job Hunting Tips. On the heels of how to answer Job interview questions, this article from Cindy McNaughton, published on The Next Web is filled with some good tips on how to prepare for the next step of your career. The article showcases the following aspects to specifically focus on: ATS Keywords, Focusing on Specifics aspects of your career, Updating the Online Presence, Networking for the long run, and Keeping Track of Opportunities. These are all very self evident, but worth paying close attention to and revisiting in a constant manner. Highlight of the article includes:
“Whether it’s on a CV, an application, or in an interview, get specific about your achievements. Identify the headlines, as it were, of your job experience. It could be that successful project, that key client win, or that growth in revenue that helps you stand out. You don’t have to embellish what you’ve achieved, this is about contextualizing it for potential new employers. Having topline stats, achievements, or successes to share can also highlight your transferable skills if you’re hoping to move into a new area.”
