Assignment 7-2 Norman 2 blog post

In Norman’s book, chapter four is loaded with great examples dealing with object constraints. It is amazing the knowledge that we have obtained that many of us take for granted. The simple example of putting together a small Lego police motorcycle toy is loaded with constraints. When reading this section, I thought to myself, I wonder what it would be like to try putting the toy together after having your memory erased. I guess it would be similar to being a baby but with a fully developed body and brain.

The section discussing doors and then the design of switch panels seem to be concepts to me that should be obvious. The whole switch design issue is one that has always annoyed. I have very rarely seen a good light switch design when multiple switches are used. I guess the notion that visual aesthetics are more important than function shows that the designers may be more artistic in thinking than they are in analyzing how a useful design should function. This is probably due to the fact that many people, when buying objects, seem to lean towards the pretty versus the practical. An example is that when selling a house, you are always told that you want it to be visually appealing. A little money spent on landscaping can make thousands of dollars of a difference in the price of a house.

In chapter five, the examples of mental slips bring to mind many of the same past experiences. Many times I remember going into a room while having a conversation with someone and forgetting what I went in to look for. I then would go back only to remember a few minutes later. Another common one for me is forgetting what I was going to talk about. This usually happens when there is a sudden interruption by someone or something that draws your attention for a few seconds. Afterwards, it seems that the harder you try to remember, the more blank your mind becomes. For me, I usually get something unrelated that keeps popping into my head repeatedly when I try to remember.

Another part of chapter five that I find very interesting is the discussion of brain function and activity. The section on the connectionist approach is particularly thought provoking. It is amazing to me that at this day and age that we still know so little about the true functioning of the brain. It is strange to think that it is made up of millions of simple cells whose functions and behaviors are anything but simple.