How User Experience Design has Changed The World

Technology continues to innovate and develop to empower humans with the tools necessary to do something more efficiently, with more creativity or more meaningfully. Technology helps humans do things better. We know we have found a good appwhen it helps us to do something better and it improves our lives in some way or another. How does User Design Experience (UX) play into this scenario and how has it, in turn, changed the world?

The answer is quite simple. User experience design is the key element that empowers people. User experience designers predict the needs, motivations and engagement of users before they even know what they want. One example that always sticks in the mind is the fact that Apple invented the iPad before the iPhone but just understood that their users were not ready for the iPad first. They knew they would be ready eventually and spent the time working on the right interface for when the world was ready for the tablet.

What examples are there of UX changing the world?

Nest:

Nest will change the world for the house proud, anxiety-prone people of the world. Those that check the oven is off ten times before they leave and that worry about the alarm at random occasions whilst on holiday. Nest allows homeowners to control the heating, lights and the alarm from their phone. Anxious folk all over the world will be able to sit back on their sun lounger safe in the knowledge that their humble abode is safe and sound. Similarly, when they are within 30 minutes of getting home, this app will turn on the heating to the homeowners desired temperature to welcome them home. Want to check the kids are home safely - this app will send you a picture of them walking through the front door.

iTranslate:

We all know that feeling when you arrive in a different country and you struggle to remember broken sentences from school to speak in the language of the country. iTranslate removes the embarrassment of struggling to communicate immediately by translating words, phrase and emails into more than 50 languages. You can order food and ask for directions with ease and even translate the response from the local people. This app is helping the world communicate.

Find Me Gluten Free:

This app is changing the world for those with food allergies. Finding specific food diets can be a difficult thing to do, especially if you travel all over for work and have a specific food allergy such as celiac disease. This app finds you gluten free food in the area surrounding your location, so you don't waste time wandering the streets trying to find something to eat for hours.

Sleep Cycle:

This app monitors your sleeping patterns and wakes you during your lightest sleep phase during your selected 30-minute window of time leaving you feeling well rested and ready for the day. This app is changing the world for those people used to waking up groggy to an obnoxious alarm next to their head.

DHA Pixelsense Technology:

Prototype recently helped develop a concept system for the Dubai Health Authority to make checking in and finding your appointment room at the hospital much more efficient. The proof of concept allows patients to easily manage their hospital visits using touch screens and mobile devices. Read more about it here.

What apps do you use that make your life more efficient, creative or meaningful? How has it changed your world?