Design of Everyday Things -Ch#4 "Knowing what to do"

My group's focus presentation is on chapter four -- "Knowing what to do," from Donald A. Norman's book, the Design of Everyday Things. In this chapter the key point is knowing how to interact and work with products that the user is unfamiliar with.

4 Key constraints that are emphasize in this chapter are:
1. Physical
2. Semantic
3. Cultural
4. Logical

Physical Constraints:
are the physical operations possible constrained by physical means. Ideally, there is only one proper way that an object can be used.

Semantic Constraints:
are the meaning of the logical possibilities and actions that an object can preform. Semantic constraints rely upon our knowledge of the world. The can provide powerful and important clues for how an object can be used.

Cultural Constraints:
deals with accepted conventional customs with using objects. New objects are often more difficult to use because there are not yet conventions or prior exposure for the user to draw on.

Logical Constraints:
are the constraining factors between the logical relationship and the spatial or functional layout of components.