6 Quotes & Sayings By Donald A Norman

Donald A. Norman is the author of several books on human-computer interaction, including The Design of Everyday Things, Eye Level: The Human Dimension of the Computer Revolution, and most recently The Design of Everyday Things Revisited. He is also noted for coining the term " affordances" . Norman is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Read more

His current research interests are in human-computer interface design.

1
Will robot teachers replace human teachers? No, but they can complement them. Moreover, the could be sufficient in situations where there is no alternative——to enable learning while traveling, or while in remote locations, or when one wishes to study a topic for which there is not easy access to teachers. Robot teachers will help make lifelong learning a practicality. They can make it possible to learn no matter where one is in the world, no matter the time of day. Learning should take place when it is needed, when the learner is interested, not according to some arbitrary, fixed schedule . Donald A. Norman
2
Could we ever switch to this or any of the many other rational systems? Unlikely: tradition is difficult to overcome. Donald A. Norman
3
What makes something simple or complex? It's not the number of dials or controls or how many features it has: It is whether the person using the device has a good conceptual model of how it operates. Donald A. Norman
4
Adults forget how difficult that task was. Donald A. Norman
5
Any time you see signs or labels added to a device, it is an indication of bad design: a simple lock should not require instructions. Donald A. Norman