Breaking the Rules

The average know the rules.
The good follow the rules.
The great bend the rules.
The best break the rules.

I don't know exactly where I heard this (and it was probably in a different format) but it is something that jumped into my mind when we began to break the rules in our last class. Sometimes we are restricted and don't even realize it; we impose rules and string red tape everywhere, even when it isn't necessary. So what happens when instead of working within the confines of 'reality' we step outside our preconceived notions and realize that a house doesn't NEED to have square corners, a vehicle doesn't NEED 4 wheels or a classroom a teacher?

Our group did well with the exercise, coming up with many different ideas stemming from rules surrounding our project. The only major failing we had was in the making up the rules, rather than the breaking. Instead of rules like 'the app must fit on a phone/tablet screen' we had ones akin to 'people have limited time'. While this is true, it is more a statement of fact than a rule that can be broken for the betterment of the project. After we got over this road bump we found it easy to get going on some of the important assumptions of the project.

That of course is the most important part of breaking the rules: finding them.

The rules that we imposed on ourselves were unspoken and had not been identified, and this class taught me quite a bit about the assumptions I make in my everyday life.




RULES

1. Managers make decisions
2. Displays have are limited to manufactured size
3. People use a keyboard with a desktop.
4. Act by time constraints.
5. People keep track of tasks.

CRUSH CONNECTIONS

1. If managers did not make decisions, then teams would make decisions or use a random process to do so. Teams will need a centralized system to make and view decisions. Or computers can make decisions.

2. Displays are adjustable to size. People can take their work anywhere they are and scale their display to their liking. There would be no need for mobile and desktop operating systems because the screen is adjustable.

3. People don't use a keyboard with a desktop. People think about what they want to be entered. People talk with their computer.

4. People don't act by time constraints. They don't need a calendar, they need a list of things. Their schedule is very flexible.

5. People don't get overwhelmed. They retain to their usual ways and perform the most important things first. People can do as many things as possible at once.