The Human Factor

1. The Human Factor Jenny Bramble Director of Engineering Papa jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
2. My name is Jenny Bramble. I have too many cats, too many rabbits, too many quail, and a concerning number of plants. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
3. My name is Jenny Bramble. I am fascinated by humans. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAM
4. My name is Jenny Bramble. I’m Director of Engineering at Papa. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
5. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
6. I make software for humans! jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
7. I want to start with a story about an app called Vocable. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
8. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
9. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
10. Humans are fundamental to software development. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
11. The behaviors we accept in our software today shape the future… jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
12. The behaviors we accept in our software today shape the future… …and who can be included in that future. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
13. Because we build software for humans, human experience must impact the software we build. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
14. I call this the human factor of software. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
15. Every line of code affects a human. Be intentional about your edge cases. Build empathy. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
16. Every line of code affects a human. Be intentional about your edge cases. Build empathy. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
17. Every line of code affects a human. Be intentional about your edge cases. Build empathy. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
18. We create software to change the world. Every line of code affects a human. Humans will rely on your software in ways you don’t expect. Technology is the future. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
19. We create software to change the world. Humans will rely on your software in ways you don’t expect. Technology is the future. Every line of code affects a human. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
20. We are making magic! We are bringing into being things that have never existed before. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
21. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
22. We create software to change the world. Humans will rely on your software in ways you don’t expect. Technology is the future. Every line of code affects a human. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
23. Who hates social media? jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
24. Some technology stores our collective memories. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
25. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
26. Some technology stores our collective memories. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
27. We create software to change the world. Humans will rely on your software in ways you don’t expect. Technology is the future. Every line of code affects a human. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
28. If technology is the future, and technology can’t see me… What does that say about my place in the future? — Ash Coleman jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
29. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
30. If technology is the future, and technology can’t see me… What does that say about my place in the future? — Ash Coleman jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
31. Edge cases are artificial. Be intentional about your edge cases. Be explicit about what you aren’t building or testing. Adapt to new information. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
32. Edge cases are artificial. Be explicit about what you aren’t building or testing. Adapt to new information. Be intentional about your edge cases. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
33. We decide what we care about when creating software. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
34. Everything the software could do. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
35. Everything the software could do. What we decide to test. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
36. Everything the software could do. What we decide to test. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
37. We decide what we care about when creating software. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
38. Edge cases are artificial. Be explicit about what you aren’t building or testing. Adapt to new information. Be intentional about your edge cases. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
39. Don’t assume we’re all on the same page unless you say it out loud. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
40. Call out accessibility or the fact your software doesn’t include it. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
41. Edge cases are artificial. Be explicit about what you aren’t building or testing. Adapt to new information. Be intentional about your edge cases. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
42. No software survives contact with end users. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
43. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
44. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
45. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
46. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
47. Humans shape our software. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
48. Sometimes a small feature becomes your business model. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
49. Don’t throw software over the wall… jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
50. Don’t throw software over the wall… to production. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
51. Empathy is hard. Build empathy. Believe people’s lived experiences. If you don’t have it, fake it. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
52. Empathy is hard. Build empathy. Believe people’s lived experiences. If you don’t have it, fake it. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
53. So what is empathy? jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
54. The ability to sense other people's emotions and imagine what they may be thinking or feeling. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
55. Not everyone naturally leans into empathy. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
56. Empathy is hard. Believe people’s lived experiences. If you don’t have it, fake it. Build empathy. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
57. Remember when I mentioned my late husband? jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
58. This guy jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
59. That twinge you may have felt was empathy. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
60. Empathy is hard. Believe people’s lived experiences. If you don’t have it, fake it. Build empathy. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
61. This next section is for folks who struggle with remembering other people are real. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
62. Make your users real by picturing them. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
63. User jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
64. Older woman Lives alone Likes cats and bookstores No support system jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
65. Maria Lopez, age 87 jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
66. Feelings are real, even if they don’t represent objective reality. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
67. If their feelings and experiences are real, what else changes? jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
68. Use the software like they would. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
69. This is hard. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
70. The ability to sense other people's emotions and imagine what they may be thinking or feeling. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
71. Picture your users. Use names, images, and other details that turn them from faceless entities to real people. Experiences and feelings are real. Imagine you’re allergic to citrus, don’t drink alcohol, or don’t have use of your right hand. Use software like they would. Turn off your screen. Use Charles Proxy to dial down your internet connection. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
72. Every line of code affects a human. Be intentional about your edge cases. Build empathy. jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
73. Let’s all build software for humans. Let’s embrace the human factor! jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica
74. https://www.flaticon.com/authors/ tomomi-the-cat/lineal-color Attributions: Lilis: https://www.fiverr.com/littlelillis/ R. K. Milholland jenny@papa.com @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica