The Human Factor

The Human Factor Jenny Bramble Director of Engineering Papa [email protected]
@jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

My name is Jenny Bramble. I have too many cats,
too many rabbits, too many quail, and a concerning number of plants. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

My name is Jenny Bramble. I am fascinated by humans.
[email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAM

My name is Jenny Bramble. I’m Director of Engineering at
Papa. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

[email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

I make software for humans! [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

I want to start with a story about an app
called Vocable. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Humans are fundamental to software development. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

The behaviors we accept in our software today shape the
future… [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

The behaviors we accept in our software today shape the
future… …and who can be included in that future. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Because we build software for humans, human experience must impact
the software we build. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

I call this the human factor of software. [email protected] @jennydoesthings
#CodeBEAMAmerica

Every line of code affects a human. Be intentional about
your edge cases. Build empathy. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

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. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

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. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

We are making magic! We are bringing into being things
that have never existed before. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Who hates social media? [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Some technology stores our collective memories. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

If technology is the future, and technology can’t see me…
What does that say about my place in the future? — Ash Coleman [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Edge cases are artificial. Be intentional about your edge cases.
Be explicit about what you aren’t building or testing. Adapt to new information. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Edge cases are artificial. Be explicit about what you aren’t
building or testing. Adapt to new information. Be intentional about your edge cases. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

We decide what we care about when creating software. [email protected]

Everything the software could do. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Everything the software could do. What we decide to test.

We decide what we care about when creating software. [email protected]

Don’t assume we’re all on the same page unless you
say it out loud. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Call out accessibility or the fact your software doesn’t include
it. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

No software survives contact with end users. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Humans shape our software. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Sometimes a small feature becomes your business model. [email protected] @jennydoesthings
#CodeBEAMAmerica

Don’t throw software over the wall… [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Don’t throw software over the wall… to production. [email protected] @jennydoesthings
#CodeBEAMAmerica

Empathy is hard. Build empathy. Believe people’s lived experiences. If
you don’t have it, fake it. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

So what is empathy? [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

The ability to sense other people's emotions and imagine what
they may be thinking or feeling. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Not everyone naturally leans into empathy. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Empathy is hard. Believe people’s lived experiences. If you don’t
have it, fake it. Build empathy. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Remember when I mentioned my late husband? [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

This guy [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

That twinge you may have felt was empathy. [email protected] @jennydoesthings
#CodeBEAMAmerica

Empathy is hard. Believe people’s lived experiences. If you don’t
have it, fake it. Build empathy. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

This next section is for folks who struggle with remembering
other people are real. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Make your users real by picturing them. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

User [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Older woman Lives alone Likes cats and bookstores No support
system [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Maria Lopez, age 87 [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Feelings are real, even if they don’t represent objective reality.

If their feelings and experiences are real, what else changes?

Use the software like they would. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

This is hard. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

The ability to sense other people's emotions and imagine what
they may be thinking or feeling. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

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. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Every line of code affects a human. Be intentional about
your edge cases. Build empathy. [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

Let’s all build software for humans. Let’s embrace the human
factor! [email protected] @jennydoesthings #CodeBEAMAmerica

https://www.flaticon.com/authors/ tomomi-the-cat/lineal-color Attributions: Lilis: https://www.fiverr.com/littlelillis/ R. K. Milholland [email protected] @jennydoesthings
#CodeBEAMAmerica

The Human Factor

The Human Factor

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