Gene Lu

In his book, "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat", Oliver Sacks presents some of the clinical tales that he has encountered during his career as a neurologist. Specifically, he discusses patients with losses (e.g. amnesia, Korsakov's Syndrome), which is then contrasted later in the book by patients with excesses (e.g. Tourette's Syndrome, Cupid's Disease). Finally, Dr. Sacks goes off the beaten path of neurological discourse and dives into the topic of transports (e.g. reminiscence, altered perceptions).

In these varying forms of pathologies, there is one common idea shared amongst most, if not all, of the patients; the lack of an inner narrative. Without an inner narrative, patients are unable to maintain an identity or to lead a continous, fulfilling life.

Happy 4th ala Optical Rods!

One of the more interesting structures at this year's Expo in Shanghai is the Seed Cathedral. According to the Arch Daily, the Seed Cathedral's "architecture was a direct manifestation of what it was exhibiting" while ensuring "a significant area of open public space around it so visitors could relax and choose either to enter the pavilion building, or see it clearly from a calm, non-queuing vantage point."

Recently, I've been reading Oliver Sacks' The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and came across a very inspirational story about a Mr. MacGregor, 93 year old man at an old people's home who, with the help of Dr. Sacks and others, prototyped a device that helped to straighten tilting patients.

In the story that follows, there are numerous parallels that can be drawn between the processes that Dr. Sacks and Mr. MacGregor went through with those that are practicing interaction design. Enjoy!