Agenda

Design of Everyday Things !Discuss Norman’s views on HCI &

design

Don Norman

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 2

Summary Don Norman

!Currently with Nielsen
Norman group
“Darn these hooves! I hit
!Previously Professor at
the wrong switch again! UCSD, at Apple, HP, etc.
Who designs these
instrument panels,
raccoons?”

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 3 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 4

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 Discussion Daily Challenges
!What did you take away from DOET !How many of you can use all the
book? functionality in your
" VCR

" Digitalwatch
" Copy machine
" Stereo system

" Plumbing fixtures

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 5 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 6

Fun Examples Fun Examples

!Leitz slide projector Doors
" To move forward,
short press
" To move backward,
long press

!What happens when

you get frustrated?

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 7 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 8

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 Fun Examples

Phones

How do you
- transfer a call
- change volume
- store a number
- ...

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 9 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 10

Changing Ringer Volume Important Concepts

!Press “Program” !Affordances
!Press “6” !Visibility
!Set volume !Conceptual models
" Low - Press “1” !Mapping
" Medium - Press “2” !Feedback
" High - Press “3”
!Constraints
!Press “Program”

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 11 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 12

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 Affordance Visual Affordances
!What is it? !Perceived and actual fundamental
properties of an object that determine
how it could be used
" Chair is for sitting
" Ballis for throwing
" Button is for pushing

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 13 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 14

Yikes! Mantra
!Complex things may need explanation,
but simple things should not
" Ifa simple thing requires instructions and
pictures, it is likely a failed design

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 15 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 16

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 Designing for People Conceptual Model
!Norman’s 2 main principles !What does Norman mean by that?
" Providea good conceptual model
" Make things visible

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 17 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 18

Conceptual Models Visibility

!People build their own systems of how !When functionality is hidden, problems
things work in use occur
" Example - car " Occurswhen number of functions is
greater than number of controls
!Designer can help user foster an
appropriate conceptual model !When capabilities are visible, it does
" Appearance, instructions, behavior... not require memory of how to use
" Remind person how to use something

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 19 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 20

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 Simple Example Simple Example
!Bathroom faucets
" Two functions
Electric plugs • Hot/cold
• Pressure

What if both sides were “big” and you had to

remember which side the “small” one went into?

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 21 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 22

Bathroom Faucets 1 Bathroom Faucets 2

Can you figure Can you figure

out how to use out how to use
it? it?
Are two functions Are two functions
clear and clear and
independent? independent?

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 23 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 24

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 Bathroom Faucets 3 Two Important Principles
!Mapping
Can you figure !Feedback
out how to use
it?

Are two functions

clear and
independent?

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 25 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 26

Mapping Mapping
!What does this mean? !Relationship between two objects,
here, between control and action/result
" Good:
• Car, various driving controls
• Mercedes Benz seat adjustment example
" Bad
• Car stereo - Knob for front/back speakers
• Stoves

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 27 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 28

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 Mapping Examples Mapping Examples
Money:
Euros vs. US Dollars
Size::value

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 29 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 30

Yikes! Why Not Design Better?

!Stove
Physical, monetary,
convenience, etc.,
constraints dictate
!Speakers otherwise

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 31 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 32

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 Feedback Constraints
!Let someone know what just occurred !Limitations on what can be done
" Can be sound that’s made " Physical - keys
" Can be change in physical state " Semantic - menu graying
" Cultural - Colors

" Logical - When all above don’t apply

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 33 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 34

Individual Differences Individual Differences

!For whom do you design? !Designers are not representative of the
" Everyone? Impossible user population for whom they are
" Average? Excluding half audience designing
" 95%? Still may miss a lot !Don’t expect users to think or act like
you
!Can’t accommodate everyone !People vary in both physical attributes
and mental/cognitive attributes

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 35 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 36

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 Example: “Big Talker” Example
Leonid Stadnyk uses
a cellphone at his Affordances - Insert something
home in Ukraine. He into holes
finds the keys difficult Scissors
to work. Constraints - Bigger hole for
several fingers, small for thumb

Mapping - How to insert fingers

into holes suggested by visible
appearance

Conceptual model - Suggested by

how parts fit together and move

Users - Often for right handed users only

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 37 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 38

Why Design is Hard Try and Try Again

!Number of things to control has !Norman thinks that it often takes 5 or 6
increased dramatically tries to get something “right”
!Displays are more virtual/artificial !Simply may not have that luxury in a
!Marketplace pressure competitive business environment
" Adding operations cheaper (computers)
" Adding controls expensive (real estate,
cost)
!Errors are becoming increasingly
serious
Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 39 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 40

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 Upcoming Photos…
!Photos !Short break and photo session
!Videos
!User Centered Design
!IRB

Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 41 Fall 2009 PSYCH / CS 6750 42

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