Characteristics of Machines and Frugal Air-Conditioners

Abstract

Part one of this book (chapters 1–4) laid the groundwork for understanding how humans and machines interact, what kind of problems emerge, and how it is possible to understand and identify some of these problems. We have seen how time delays may confuse users. We have seen how the underlying structure of machines, where the same event can lead to several outcomes, produces errors. I introduced the concept of abstraction and we have discussed examples (e.g., the diagram of the London Underground) that highlight the use and benefits of this concept for interface design. The basic concept of non-determinism was introduced and we have come to see its problematic implication (e.g., in the digital watch) for interface design. Hopefully, you began to intuitively feel and realize that there is a very fine balance between simplification of the interface (by abstracting-out superfluous information) and over-simplification of interface to the point that it becomes nondeterministic.