Reference Information
Title: Design of Everyday Things
Author: Donald Norman
Publisher: Basic Books (2002)
Chapter 4: Knowing What to Do (24 Pages)
Summary
In this chapter Norman talks more about the door example that was first introduced at the beginning of the book. In regards to the user knowing what to do with a device, he identifies 4 constraints: physical, semantic, cultural and logical. Each of these constraints play off of each other. A physical constraint for example can dictate how someone orients an object in space. He also talks about the importance of visibility and feedback. An object's relevant parts need to be visible and feedback should be given so that the user may understand the immediacy of their action.
Discussion
As per all his chapters, this was another very good one. I have had many situations where I did not know whether or not my action led to anything at all due to no visual feedback being given. I am savvy enough to understand that this may or may not always occur, but novice users (many of them whom I help at my job) think that the computer is "moody".
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