A consumer-oriented look at the promise and perils of the smart objects, and a cautionary tale for designers of these objects - many of which are already in use or development.

Even the smartest among us can feel inept as we fail to figure our which light switch or oven burner to turn on, or whether to push, pull, or slide a door. The fault, argues this fascinating, ingeniouseven liberatingbook, lies not in ourselves, but in product design that ignores the needs of users and the principles of cognitive psychology. The problems range from ambiguous and hidden controls ..

In Things That Make Us Smart, Donald A. Norman explores the complex interaction between human thought and the technology it creates, arguing for the development of machines that fit our minds, rather than minds that must conform to the machine. Humans have always worked with objects to extend our cognitive powers, from counting on our fingers to designing massive supercomputers. But advanced ...

Every time we encounter an object, our reaction is determined not only by how well it works, but by how good it looks to us, and by the self-image, loyalty and even nostalgia it evokes in us.

Technologies have a life cycle, and they must change as they gain maturity. Alas, the computer industry thinks it is still in its rebellious years, exalting in technical complexity. In this book, the author shows why the computer is difficult to use, and why this is so fundamental to its nature.