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Quote by Donald A. Norman

“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.”

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

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“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.”

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“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.”

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“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.”

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“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

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“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

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“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.”

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“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.”

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

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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?”

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“We are victims of our own success. We have let technology lead the way, pushing ever faster to newer, faster, and more powerful systems, with nary a moment to rest, contemplate, and to reflect upon why, how, and for whom all this energy has been expended.”

Way Has Beens Moments Energy Powerful Technology Victim Faster Pushing Contemplating

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