In Norman’s text, he argues for having a human-centered design, focusing on creating products that are simple and straightforward to use by aligning the design with what users need and can do. In context to that, one thing that drove me crazy (probably because I was really hungry) is how confusing digital appliances can be—like the air fryer I tried to use in the dorm. I expected it to be super easy, but instead, both me and Amna my sister, had to spend ages trying to figure out the functions because the instructions were just vague images and the digital display wasn’t clear. For someone who doesn’t cook often, it was frustrating to the point where I had to search TikTok to find out how to use it, and still it took ages to figure out as I had to find a similar Air fryer. To fix this, I think appliances like this should have built-in, interactive tutorials. Imagine turning on the air fryer for the first time and having it guide you step-by-step on the screen, showing you exactly how to use it. That way, you wouldn’t have to guess or waste time searching for help online.
In terms of applying Norman’s principles to interactive media, his ideas about affordances and signifiers would be super helpful. For example, in apps or websites, using clear icons or buttons that naturally show what they do would make everything easier to navigate. Also, feedback is key, like when you press a button, having a small animation or sound that lets you know the app is working on your request. It’s those little things that make the user experience smoother. Plus, having a simple design that allows users to quickly figure out how everything works without needing a tutorial, would make interactive media way more intuitive, kind of like how appliances should work right out of the box without you needing to look up instructions.