Design of Everyday Things

Donald Norman

Summary

"It is not your fault" seems to be the takeaway message of this book. Norman presents 7 principles for making tasks simpler:

1. Use knowledge that exists around.
2. Simplify tasks.
3. Make things visible.
4. Have a clear mapping between tasks and actions.
5. Exploit the power of constraints.
6. Design for failure.
7. Standardize.

The book discusses above as useful techniques to better design everyday things and he gives several such examples like faucets with instructions, ventilation systems with no feedback, ambiguous light switches. Ideas discussed in the book apply really well in the sphere of human computer interaction.

Case Study : iPad

For my detailed discussion I decided to do a case study on iPad on the above seven principle and see how ‘well’ designed iPad is. On each principle I start with a score of 5/10 and increase or decrease the score depending upon how well or badly it does on each of the principles.

1. iPad builds upon the touch features from iPod as well as existing app framework from iPhone. However for its hardware, Apple chose to design its own processor and battery. 5/10
2. iPad is marketed as an internet and multimedia device and indeed iPad has very much simplified the task of browsing internet or listening to multimedia by using touch based interface. 10/10
3. iPad relies on an existing user experience with Apple devices since there is nothing to explain if the device is a touch based device or joystick based. How do I type my email ? Where is the keyboard…there is a port at the end..do I need to connect a keyboard to type ? On the other hand, apps are visible on the home page. 3/10
4. There is a clear mapping between tasks and actions while on Home page or in an app where you click on an app to launch it. All features are accessible using large visual buttons. 9/10
5. There is a clear feedback in iPad. Pressing the button brings up iPad immediately, so do the apps on being clicked. 9/10
6. Having a minimalist interface can go either way. In general it can be said though that it leaves less room for fiddling with wrong controls. 7/10
7. iPad is definitely not what would be described as a standard device. Apple has a long tradition of shunning standard features in the name of sleek new features. So no USB, camera, Flash support, multitasking and full blown OS. 1/10

Overall, we end with a score of 44/70 for iPad or 6.3 on a scale of 10. While iPad does really well on making things simple, providing mapping and feedbacks, it does not do well in standardising and visibility.

Disclaimer

Please note that this figure is neither a measure of iPad’s possible performance nor its success but just how well it stands on the Norman principles. This post in itself was created as part of course requirement of CPSC 436.