Interaction design to save lives: UX Challenge

UN declared 2009 as the international year of reconciliation. As designers, usability professionals and information architects we are busy building interfaces so that our clients earn more money through sleek webshops, getting their message out through fancy web 2.0-ish solutions or make their workday fun through building apps that work. But, what if the client was mankind, you were the designer and the task was to build something that actually contributed to world peace?

The first thing you would probably think is; “this is impossible”. We don’t blame you. What would it be? A Facebook for peace? An online game to get Palestinians and the Israeli to become friends? To be honest, we really don’t know if it’s possible. We don’t have the answer. But, do we dare not to try?

We turned the question around: Why could this work? We don’t think we can make something that actually stops a war. But, can we make the reconciliation process easier and make it less probable that a new conflict will escalate?

The web is a perfect medium for communicating across borders. People in a conflict area would probably not like to meet face to face, but could they interact through the web?

The costs of a web solution could be quite low compared to the possible importance of the outcome. How many lives must be saved to call this a success?

Even if politicians and others have the most power on paper, the strength of the social media is to get people engaged and to move the masses. Already in 2006 Time Magazine made YOU (We) the person of the year. So let’s live up to it!

We believe that with the following ingredients this will be possible:

• The skills of the best interaction designers in the world
• A competitive environment where the winners will be celebrated
• Arctic surroundings – but you won’t freeze
• Motivation to change the world

UX Challenge was a crazy idea to start with. Jay Morgan, Even Risbakken and me did some brainstorming at IAsummit in 2007. I remember the faces around the lunch table varying from “ok, let them talk..” to “this is a great idea”. Now, it is reality and we have got tons of positive feedback. Let us give it a shot! Can we make a difference? www.uxchallenge.com