Patterns are all around us and there are multiple ways for us to perceive them. Simple definition, a pattern is a regularity in the world, in human-made design or in an abstract idea. The art of pattern recognition is something that has kept the homo sapiens alive across millenniums. The Neanderthals could identify the animals by its ferocity, the plants from its leaves, and terrains for their habitability. This power of pattern recognition came through the necessities that drove them.

In the current time, pattern recognition has continued to be an arsenal in human growth. Patterns are observations organized into something meaningful by the human mind. In the otherwise chaotic world, pattern recognition is what defines the growth of an individual, the community, and the products.

There are patterns in numbers, people, music, and one’s thought. Mathematics is the language of patterns. The Fibonacci series is found in multiple things in nature from petals of flowers to the evolution of rabbits. Pattern recognition is the crux of Machine Learning, wherein as to how quickly we can find patterns will define our success. From music to linguistics we observe similarities, symmetry, and patterns.

Finding patterns in user-behavior can lead to exceptional products or features in existing products. Seasoned product veterans can ask the right questions, intuit the way forward, and envision ideas that lead to great products. User behavior also behaves in patterns. For instance, Cue, Routine, and reward are the 3 steps in a habit and this can lead to a lot of predictability and foresight into a user’s actions.

Product viewpoint

Customers hooking onto products is also a result of such patterns. Let’s elaborate this further with examples:

• If there is a social need and we need to see what others are doing and how we are feeling. For this, a good product, aptly helps us to solve our problem. Every time a social need arises and we lookout for the same product, we get hooked onto this pattern. Our brains recognize this pattern.
• Another example is when we want to know about something. Our first hunch goes for Google. Furthermore, now that Google can solve our problems accurately, it becomes a part of our pattern recognition technique and hence ingrains in our brains.

The main takeaway here is we need to focus and be more vigilant about the patterns around us. Something that is easy to use, appealing to look at and completes a pattern in my behavior is how great products can evolve.

Real needs or created needs: Pattern behaviour

• In the case of real needs, the need is around us, and some innovator or disruptor creates that into a product. Uber for cabs when there are no pick and drops becomes a real need.
• The created need is one where due to the comfort or appeal of the product, we created a pattern to supersede other patterns. Eg. Using Uber in a location where taxis are available.

Design thinking can help us in this quest to recognize patterns. Design thinking is the exercise wherein we can think in ways we normally wouldn’t in order to see the pain points or identify solutions that are around. For example, one would not see a pattern in numbers if non-observant. In an attempt to correlate a Fibonacci pattern on petals, one notices that unconventional thinking is leading to the correct hypothesis.

As pattern recognition progresses, both in computer science and as humans evolve, we hope for more breakthroughs in the psychology of products and into the customer’s minds. While, there might not be a singular formula for everything; careful, planned and diligent observation can lead us to recognize patterns around us every day leading to much greater implications and consequences.