Calling Voyager: Interface Design for NASA’s Deep Space Network
summary
NASA’s Deep Space Network history and practical fixes take center stage: how a global system of 13 antennas including the only three 70-meter antennas that can reach Voyagers forces design constraints; the operational switch to follow-the-sun that triples workload from one link to one operator managing three links and why paper testing called paper dolls exposes real risks; measured wins like a skin change cutting time-to-detect anomalies from 19s to 12s, a command lookup paving the path to optional autocomplete, and participatory methods that actually land incremental change.
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chapters (15)
- 0:00Introduction to the DSN
- 1:53Understanding the network
- 3:16Engineering challenges
- 4:37User profile of operators
- 6:12Daily operational tasks
- 8:17Legacy interface issues
- 10:55Understanding user resistance
- 13:48Future operational changes
- 16:24Lessons in UX design
- 18:57Iterative design process
- 23:20Techniques for engagement
- 28:19Novel testing methods
- 32:17Cultivating user advocates
- 34:34Future goals and automation
- 37:06Q&A and conclusion
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