Intuition

Question 1

What is Intuition?

Answer 1

When older overlaid sub-systems of the brain affect behavior or thought

Question 2

What is a subsystem?

Answer 2

A subsystem can inhibit or activate another, but it doesn’t control it.

Question 3

Software updates ______ the old. Brain updates ______ the old system.

Answer 3

1. replace
2. Overlays

Question 4

What can happen when a more complex subsystem overlays a more primitive one?

Answer 4

1. The new system can inhibit the older one
2. The old one is backup if the new one fails
3. The old one - being faster - can jump in first

Question 5

The brain evolved new functions by:

a. Updating its processing logic periodically.
b. Constant step-by-step improvement.
c. Overlaying new systems over old systems.

Answer 5

c. Overlaying new systems over old systems.

Question 6

Creating a consistent web interface is good because it:

a. Reduces brain effort.
b. Increases cooperation between the hemispheres.
c. Reduces emotional responses.

Answer 6

a. Reduces brain effort. Changing, say, a text font requires that part of the brain factory to retool its neural machinery.

Consistency means people don’t have to learn new things as they move around the site.

Question 7

Damaged brains degrade gracefully, but damaged computers collapse entirely because:

Answer 7

Most computers have centralized control – they are just one system.

The brain is a collective of system upon system.

Question 8

When something is not recognized, it generates arousal which can manifest as:

Answer 8

Curiosity or fear. What frightens the weak may interest the strong

Question 9

The brain is like an onion with layer upon layer, as each evolution ______ the last.

Answer 9

overlaid

Question 10

Mid-brain emotions e.g fear

Answer 10

limbic system

Question 11

Cortical cognitions

Answer 11

neocortex

Question 12

Language

Answer 12

Temporal cortex

Question 13

Planning

Answer 13

Frontal cortex

Question 14

Recognition

Answer 14

Occipital cortex

Question 15

Memory

Answer 15

Hippocampus

Question 16

The squint test is to:

a. Squint your eyes to imagine how it should be.
b. Squint your eyes to see the one thing the website is about.
c. Try to see how simple processing sees your screen.

Answer 16

c. Try to see how simple processing sees your screen.

The squint test measures a system’s intuitive effect.

Question 17

The three layers of human response to any situation, in speed order, are:

Answer 17

Physical, emotional and intellectual.

Physical: Comes first - handles motor details like reflex and instint

Emotional: Comes next - handles body states like fear, anger, and blame

Intellectual: Comes last - handles reasons like justifying and explaining

Question 18

Users find plain text web pages unsatisfying because:

a. Plain text only activates one input processing channel.
b. Plain text doesn’t convey feelings.
c. Plain text is plain, so it doesn’t change, and is cued out.

Answer 18

a. Plain text only activates one input processing channel.

Question 19

The brain has to handle real-time responses in a complex world.

1. How does the brain satisfy the dual needs of a fast response and of a correct response?
2. What was the main advantage of this approach for us in the past?

Question 20

The web of system performance illustrates that:

a. More of what worked last time doesn’t necessarily work next time.
b. Everything is connected to everything else so anything can cause a collapse.
c. System performance is “sticky” in that winners continue to win.

Question 21

A better aim for designers than excellence is

Question 22

In performance terms, functional software:

Question 23

In performance terms, usable software:

Question 24

In performance terms, reliable software:

Question 25

In performance terms, flexible software can:

Question 26

In performance terms, extendible software can:

Question 27

In performance terms, secure software:

Question 28

In performance terms, connected software:

Question 29

In performance terms, private software: