Home / Quotes / Quote by Donald A. Norman

Quote by Donald A. Norman

“Serious accidents are frequently blamed on "human error." Yet careful analysis of such situations shows that the design or installation of the equipment has contributed significantly to the problems. The design team or installers did not pay sufficient attention to the needs of those who would be using the equipment, so confusion or error was almost unavoidable.”

Quote by Donald A. Norman

Author

Donald A. Norman

Donald A. Norman, born on December 25, 1935, is a renowned author. His work primarily focuses on human factors engineering, design psychology, and user experience. more

You May Also Like

“Change the attitude toward errors. Think of an object's user as attempting to do a task, getting there by imperfect approximations. Don't think of the user as making errors; think of the actions as approximations of what is desired.”

Thinking Action Attitude Objects Tasks Errors Imperfect Users Attempting Approximation

Author:Donald A. Norman

“Innocence lost is not easily regained. The designer simply cannot predict the problems people will have, the misinterpretations that will arise, and the errors that will get made.”

People Made Problem Lost Errors Arise Innocence Designer Misinterpretation

Author:Donald A. Norman

“Creeping featurism is a disease, fatal if not treated promptly. There are some cures, but, as usual, the best approach is to practice preventative medicine.”

Ifs Practice Disease Approach Medicine Treated Cures Usual

Author:Donald A. Norman

“Computer scientists have so far worked on developing powerful programming languages that make it possible to solve the technical problems of computation. Little effort has gone toward devising the languages of interaction.”

Littles Problem Language Powerful Effort Gone Computer Scientist Solve Developing Programming Interaction Programming Languages Computation Devising

Author:Donald A. Norman

“When I use a direct manipulation system whether for text editing, drawing pictures, or creating and playing games I do think of myself not as using a computer but as doing the particular task. The computer is, in effect, invisible. The point cannot be overstressed: make the computer system invisible.”

Thinking Use Games Effects Particular Computer Creating Tasks Direct Drawing Invisible Manipulation Editing Playing Games Computer Systems Drawing Pictures

Author:Donald A. Norman

“Hypertext makes a virtue out of lack of organization, allowing ideas and thoughts to be juxtaposed at will. [...] The advent of hypertext is apt to make writing much more difficult, not easier. Good writing, that is.”

Writing Ideas Difficult Virtue Easier Organization Allowing Good Writing Advent

Author:Donald A. Norman

“In the consumer economy taste is not the criterion in the marketing of expensive soft drinks, usability is not the primary criterion in the marketing of home and office appliances. We are surrounded with objects of desire, not objects of use.”

Use Home Desire Economy Objects Drink Taste Office Marketing Primaries Consumers Expensive Criteria Appliances Usability Objects Of Desire Soft Drinks

Author:Donald A. Norman

“As the technology matures, it becomes less and less relevant. The technology is taken for granted. Now, new customers enter the marketplace, customers who are not captivated by technology, but who instead want reliability, convenience, no fuss or bother, and low cost.”

Want Technology Taken Cost Lows Customers Granted Bother Relevant Convenience Marketplace Taken For Granted Reliability Captivated

Author:Donald A. Norman

“The obvious is that which is never seen until someone expresses it simply.”

Inspirational Simplicity Obvious Perplexity Cute Life

Book:The New Frontier and Sand and Foam

Source: The New Frontier and Sand and Foam

“Go to the bookstore and look at how many bookshelves are filled with books trying to explain how to work the devices. We don't see shelves of books on how to use television sets, telephones, refrigerators or washing machines. Why should we for computer-based applications?”

Should Trying Looks Book Use Television Computer Machines Filled Devices Application Shelves Telephones Washing Bookstores Refrigerators Bookshelves Washing Machines

Author:Donald A. Norman