I found the class brainstorm this week extremely useful in generating ideas, for example, it caused me to think more into solutions which may not be possible today, and push the boundaries, progressing each idea further into the realm of future technology. For example, an idea I thought of which I believe may be useful is the ability to use the house itself as an interface for control of appliances or even augmented reality games. Another of my higher quality ideas from the brainstorm was for a brain chip to allow the user to design their house in an augmented virtual space, where they would be able to enjoy a virtual version of their house, which is mapped out like in real life, but they would be able to design it however they imagine without the restraints of physical possibility. Other users of the chip would also be able to view the host’s house as they had designed it in the virtual world. Some of the videos shown in the lecture also inspired these ideas, introducing me to technology I didn’t even consider could exist, such as the implementation of screens and interactions into normal objects.
This article by the Nielsen Normal Group makes some predictions on the future of the UX design industry. It states that it is likely that many in the UX design sector will have different roles than today, partly due to the rapid development and integration of AI in the modern day. I also believe this is quite a probably outcome, but it does not mean that these jobs will be lost, but that designers will have to learn new skills in order to accommodate newer and more efficient methods. The article also made a point that going forward UX designers will need to strive for greater cooperation with other departments, which will emphasise the necessity of the job role, as it changes over time, so that companies do not lose sight of the importance of UX design.