COVID-19 has forced all of us to adjust to new norms. Most of these norms are at least a little painful, like wearing stuffy masks. What I like about the Kinetic Touchless elevator button is that, first and foremost, it’s familiar. The design builds upon a gesture we already know—pressing a button. UX designers sometimes refer to this approach generically as “meeting users where they are.” As with any new technology, like self-driving cars or virtual reality, a few familiar affordances bridge the gap to the strange and new. With so much strange during COVID-19, a gesture as recognizable as a button press is a welcome artifact of times before. … [Read more...] about Everyone’s terrified of elevators during COVID-19. Could these magic buttons help?
Self driving trucks
Icy blast sparks travel chaos: Mayhem on Britain’s roads as temperatures plunge to -9C overnight amid threat of MORE flooding later this week days after country was ravaged by Storm Christoph
'Our 2020 recovery programme inspected over 20,000 assets and, supported by a £120 million government investment, all of our assets are winter ready either through repairs or, where these have not been completed, robust contingency plans are in place.' … [Read more...] about Icy blast sparks travel chaos: Mayhem on Britain’s roads as temperatures plunge to -9C overnight amid threat of MORE flooding later this week days after country was ravaged by Storm Christoph
Pupils suffering from anxiety and depression to receive counselling in schools
Dr Bernadka Dubicka, a children’s psychiatrist who chairs the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ child and adolescent faculty, said she was frustrated that more help would not be put in place sooner. While welcoming the four-week treatment pledge, she also queried where the extra mental health professionals would come from to provide speedier Camhs care. Official figures show that the number of specialist children’s psychiatrists working in the NHS in England has fallen since 2013. … [Read more...] about Pupils suffering from anxiety and depression to receive counselling in schools
Democrats’ Choice: End the Filibuster or Watch McConnell Win (Again)
In the wake of Obama’s victory, there were tons of smart political observers saying Republicans are going to have to compromise, they’re going to have to cooperate with Obama. So it’s easy to forget how massive his victory was, and it came on the heels of Democrats’ huge win in the 2006 midterms. So Obama came into office with these very high approval ratings and massive majorities in both chambers of Congress. It seemed like Republicans were going to have to compromise or become extinct, but it took living the reality of seeing Republicans obstruct for year for senators to come around to the idea. I don’t think there’s any question that more could have gotten done, but I still struggle to see how we could have gotten the votes to go for a full nuclear option back then. I think we almost have those votes now. … [Read more...] about Democrats’ Choice: End the Filibuster or Watch McConnell Win (Again)