#15 / Do you remember Mr. Clippy?
Hello my friend! 👋
Do you remember Mr. Clippy?
If you’ve got as many miles on the clock as me, you’ll probably recall this little animated assistant from the glory days of Microsoft Office. Clippy was our trusty sidekick, always ready to introduce new features or guide us, step-by-step, through the complexities of our tasks.
Back then, as we were finding our way around new software interfaces and interaction patterns, having a digital assistant like Clippy on hand was super useful. But as we grew more tech-savvy, we didn’t need our ever-eager helper quite as much, and eventually, Clippy retired.
Fast forward to the present, and it feels like we’ve come full circle. The rise of AI and other cloud-based technologies has us exploring new interaction paradigms all over again. In a way, it’s a bit like déjà vu. Wouldn’t it be kinda cool if we had a modern Clippy on hand? This time around, instead of guiding us through software, this AI assistant could support us in our day-to-day work, and in a language we understand.
When you think about it, the realm of human-machine interaction is going through an exciting phase right now. We’re seeing shifts as significant as those we experienced between the 1960s and 1970s when the likes of Douglas Engelbart revolutionized the field with his human-computer interaction theories and practical innovations like the mouse and graphic interface.
Today, we’re at the cusp of another transformative moment, with natural language processing taking center stage. Now we can interact with machines more intuitively, using speech. This shift towards speed and natural language use is setting the stage for a surge in raw data creation, and that’s where AI comes in - to help us make sense of it all.
Isn’t it mind-blowing to consider how these developments could herald a new era in human-computer interaction? Personally, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for the next Clippy-like breakthrough.
Reflections on Drinking with Colleagues
2 ways to interact with ChatGPT
Crafting LinkedIn Recommendations with AI (super fast)!
Bear Recommends: ‘Made By Dad’
Dad joke: shouting contest
Have a great one and see you soon!
Reflections on Drinking with Colleagues
As a non-native speaker, during previous social gatherings, probably about 70% of my energy was spent on doubting whether people could understand my pronunciation, whether my accent was standard, and whether my grammar was correct. Later, I slowly spent about 50% of my energy on these issues. Now, I spend about 80%-90% of my energy on interaction and communication. Still, a little bit of energy is spent on thinking, “Is this the right way to say it in English?”
If I could be 100% engaged in the conversation, that should be about right.
2 ways to interact with ChatGPT
Everyone interacts with AI(here I mean ChatGPT) differently. Some people prefer to use simple commands or parameters to get tasks done, almost like programming. Others like to engage in direct conversation to get more feedback and ideas. For me, I get the most stimulating feedback and ideas when I treat AI as a companion in conversation. I can validate its perspectives, pose questions, and even disagree - but having the conversation led by me results in the best outcomes.
How about you?
Crafting LinkedIn Recommendations with AI (super fast)!
Unlock the power of AI to create personalized and compelling LinkedIn recommendations with your unique writing style.
Bear Recommends: ‘Made By Dad’
‘Dad-Made’ - or ‘How Dads Can Kill Time by Crafting Toys from Junk at Home’ - is such a fun book. You’ll need a bit of craftiness and some DIY skills, and a fair amount of free time, too. I’ve marked down a few ‘projects’ I’d love to try later. One especially appealing idea is the ‘toy black hole’ mounted on the wall. Now that’s a win - it turns my kid’s leftover toys into decoration, instead of them being strewn all over the floor like before.
Dad joke: shouting contest
Molly came back and said, ‘I won a competition at school today.’ I asked, ‘What kind of competition?’ She replied, ‘A shouting contest.’ I asked, ‘How did you win?’
And then I went deaf.
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🐻 Bear Who?
Hi there 👋, I’m Bear, a seasoned Product Designer with 15 years of overall design experience and six years in product design, transforming the user experiences for millions 📝
As an Apple Award-Winning Podcast Host at BearTalk and a Design Mentor at Springboard and CareerFoundry, I apply my self-taught design skills and science background to solve complicated problems and mentor budding designers 😃
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