The v/h journalhttps://vh.do/journal/Notes, films and ideas about making technology useful in everyday life.en-usA choice for this taskhttps://vh.do/journal/2026-11-05-temporary-choices/https://vh.do/journal/2026-11-05-temporary-choices/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:32:43 GMTA setting changed for one task shouldn't become a rule for every task.Offline from the first usehttps://vh.do/journal/2026-11-04-first-use/https://vh.do/journal/2026-11-04-first-use/Wed, 04 Nov 2026 18:39:32 GMTWorking offline should include the first use.Keep the result useful without the devicehttps://vh.do/journal/2026-11-03-usable-output/https://vh.do/journal/2026-11-03-usable-output/Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:58:12 GMTA file made by a device should remain useful after the device is gone.Count the hands a task takeshttps://vh.do/journal/2026-11-02-using-your-hands/https://vh.do/journal/2026-11-02-using-your-hands/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 16:40:47 GMTOne button can still take two hands.Design for the part that wears outhttps://vh.do/journal/2026-11-01-replaceable-parts/https://vh.do/journal/2026-11-01-replaceable-parts/Sun, 01 Nov 2026 16:33:47 GMTA worn pad shouldn't make an otherwise working device disposable.Test the utility where it will be usedhttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-31-ordinary-conditions/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-31-ordinary-conditions/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 15:36:54 GMTThe room shouldn't need to be arranged around the device.Make the task status clear after the beephttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-30-lasting-feedback-earlier-post/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-30-lasting-feedback-earlier-post/You shouldn't have to catch a beep to know whether a task finished.Make the task status clear after the beephttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-30-lasting-feedback/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-30-lasting-feedback/Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:02:16 GMTYou shouldn't have to catch a beep to know whether a task finished.Decide what the device should rememberhttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-29-useful-memory/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-29-useful-memory/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:22:43 GMTA device should have a reason to remember the last task.Choose the computing budget around the jobhttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-28-computing-budget/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-28-computing-budget/Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:32:59 GMTBefore choosing a larger model, we should be able to name the extra work it will do for the owner.Compare the new device with the existing workaroundhttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-27-the-workaround/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-27-the-workaround/Tue, 27 Oct 2026 15:41:22 GMTA workaround is evidence of a need. It isn't evidence that people want another device.The owner should have a direct way to stophttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-26-direct-control/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-26-direct-control/Mon, 26 Oct 2026 15:37:26 GMTA Stop button should not depend on a conversation with an AI.What would you like to hear from us?https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-24-hear-from-you/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-24-hear-from-you/How are you today? Tell us what you want to hear from us.Design the action and the check togetherhttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-24-check-the-result/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-24-check-the-result/Sat, 24 Oct 2026 15:43:26 GMTA device can follow an instruction and still leave the job unfinished.Usable by the person who did not set it uphttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-21-shared-use/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-21-shared-use/Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:32:19 GMTThe person who didn't set it up should be able to use it.Count the whole jobhttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-20-whole-routine/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-20-whole-routine/Tue, 20 Oct 2026 20:17:21 GMTCount the work after "done."Life with v/h: Stay for the storyhttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-20-stay-for-the-story-film/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-20-stay-for-the-story-film/Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:27:09 GMTStay for the story.Life with v/h: Keep the favouritehttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-20-keep-the-favourite-film/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-20-keep-the-favourite-film/Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:18:36 GMTKeep the favourite.Life with v/h: The Starehttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-20-life-with-vh-film/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-20-life-with-vh-film/Tue, 20 Oct 2026 07:52:21 GMTLet life have your attention.What an interrupted task should tell youhttps://vh.do/journal/2026-10-19-recovery/https://vh.do/journal/2026-10-19-recovery/Mon, 19 Oct 2026 16:48:00 GMTIf a device stops halfway through a task, 'Try again' isn't enough.Less time managing the producthttps://vh.do/journal/less-to-manage/https://vh.do/journal/less-to-manage/Mon, 19 Oct 2026 05:26:12 GMTA useful device can succeed by giving you fewer reasons to interact with it.What an everyday utility has to provehttps://vh.do/journal/ordinary-week/https://vh.do/journal/ordinary-week/Mon, 19 Oct 2026 05:25:38 GMTWe want to judge our first utility by an ordinary week of use.The core function belongs with the producthttps://vh.do/journal/ownership/https://vh.do/journal/ownership/Mon, 19 Oct 2026 05:25:10 GMTYou should be able to use the core function of a product you own without keeping a service running.Made to be usefulhttps://vh.do/journal/made-to-be-useful/https://vh.do/journal/made-to-be-useful/Mon, 19 Oct 2026 05:24:38 GMTYou shouldn't have to be interested in technology to benefit from it.What we mean by an agent under the hoodhttps://vh.do/journal/agent-under-the-hood/https://vh.do/journal/agent-under-the-hood/Mon, 19 Oct 2026 05:23:40 GMTThe complicated decisions should happen inside the product.Easy to use and useful to many peoplehttps://vh.do/journal/broad-usefulness/https://vh.do/journal/broad-usefulness/Mon, 19 Oct 2026 05:21:15 GMTA product can be easy for everyone to use and still be useful to almost no one.