Towards Understanding and Modeling Empathy for Use in Motivational Design Thinking

When personal computers were initially created they were difficult to use and learn the functionality, and just non-intuitive. Companies like Microsoft and Apple revolutionized the way we interact with computers by incorporating graphical user interfaces and simplicity into the commands to execute a process. The designers of these interfaces put more focus into user experiences and the satisfaction that users potentially experienced while performing a task with the technology [1]. In design thinking exercises, innovative ideas for new technologies are created through activities that challenge individuals to think like a designer. The main question design thinking tries to answer is how can technology be changed, modified or adapted to better accommodate or address human needs. Thinking empathetically requires persons to put themselves in another's shoes and experience life as that person. Participants in design thinking workshops often have homework that requires them to observe the world around them (e.g.