Held: Monday, 24 February 2014

Back to Outline 15 - Perspectives (3). On to Outline 17 - Human Factors (2).

Summary

We begin to consider the use of human factors in the design of technology. We ground our discussion in Norman's approach.

Related Pages

• Questions on Norman 1 and 2
• EBoard (Source) (HTML) (PDF)

Overview

• Norman, Chapter 1.
• Norman, Chapter 2.
• Activity: Scavenger hunt.
• Discussion questions.

Administrivia

• Note takers (send me five main points): CC and PG.
• Readings/skimmings for this week
  • Wednesday: Norman 3-4 (90 pages)
  • Friday: Norman 5-6 (90 pages)
• Next Wednesday and Friday are the exam.
  
  • Sample exams distributed Wednesday.
  • Questions due Saturday.
  • Review session Monday.
• Extra credit:
  • Town hall meeting Tuesday at noon or 7pm
  • Royce Wolf concert Wednesday at noon

Side Note: Norman Doors

The doors to the courtyard in the science elbow are a great example of "Norman Doors". I've watched the lead faculty member convince himself they were locked.

Opening: Basic Premises

• Design is important.
• Design is difficult; faces a variety of constraints.
• Users form models of behavior.
• Good design helps match user model to actual model.

Scavenger Hunt Activity

Wander through the room, identifying objects, their affordances, their signifiers, their flaws, and possible design improvements. Look for at least two of each of the following:

• Really good designs.
• Really bad designs.
• Affordances.
• Signifiers - natural.
• Signifiers - "unnatural"

Some Questions

• Why does bad design exist?
• Who is more at fault when things go wrong? The designers or the user?
• Are Joy's concerns based, in part, on Norman's observations that when there's a mismatch, things go hideously wrong?

My previous approach

Unfortunately (or fortunately), the book has changed since the first edition. And the new edition does not necessarily afford the same discussion questions. These old ones are left for eference purposes.

The User Interface of the Book

• Small groups of three (you and two neighbors).
• Identify the different kinds of typography in the book (as many as you can).
• What does each kind of typography represent?

Norman's Four Principles

• What are they?
• Why are they important?

Norman's Theses

• Primary and secondary?

Open Discussion

• TBD