Notes from Chapter 1

Natural design: the use of natural signals, naturally interpreted without any need to be conscious of them. (4)

affordances: the perceived and actual properties of the thing, primarily those fundamental properties that determine just how the thing could possibly be used. Affordances provide clues to the operations of things. (9)

Example (Responses to Signs)
http://www.happyplace.com/4286/brilliantly-sarcastic-responses-to-comple...

Dr. B Note: “simple elegance”—a design principle to live by!

“Microsoft Redesigns the iPod Packaging”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUXnJraKM3k

conceptual models: ideas about how things work based on their parts, visible structure. (12)

Two Principles of designing for people:
1. Provide a good conceptual model
2. Make things visible

Mapping: the relationship between two things (should be natural and visible); relationship between a control and an action

Principle of Feedback: sending information back to the user about what action has actually been done. (27)