Reading Blog - Design of Future Things Ch 3

Chapter 3

Reference Info:

Summary:
Norman opens up this chapter by reasseting the notion that natural interaction can be rather annoying with todays technologies. He proposes that the future technologies will interact by using natural sounds opposed to machine bleeps and chimes. An example is boiling watter in a kettle. It naturally produces a steady sound until reaches boling point, where it unleashes a whistling sound. This sound is a natural sound in which the user becomes aware that the action is complete opposed to waiting for some electronic beep. Another example is comfort noise, such as the noise made from old telephones to let users know it was dialing. Now, telephones have become so advanced that circuits are noise free. Customers don't like that. They want to hear the noise to know that the action is beinf done or processed. The challenge is to get a sound that is informative yet not annoying. Visual markers are also a great help for users. It is another way to express and not annoy. Affordance comes into play as a form of communication. Visual and audible affordances are key in designs, else they are useless if the user doesnt know it is there or exists. Communication with intelligent devices was then introduced and the variations of strictness or atonomy it can have. The behavior of users can interact and communicate with the technology opposed to a one way conversation. Norman gives the example of the futuristic car than stiffens up so you become more alert and aware. Responsive automation is another example in which human computer symbioses alows both to work together to get a task done. A funner example is the segway, in which both interact to get around.

Discussion:
I would rather much prefer a mechanical sound opposed to a natural sound. It is more controlled and is ghauranyteed not to be confused with any natural occuring sound. Who knows how the design of future thngs will be, but I feel this method is treying to hard using technology to hide technology. It is trying to be integrated into our lives more and more while at the same time trying to seem natural.