1. Something that drives me crazy (not mentioned in the reading) and how it could be improved
One of the problems that drive me crazy is the touch screen controls in cars because many new cars have replaced physical buttons and knobs with a large screen for everything (like changing the AC or the radio). This is frustrating because you have to take your eyes off the road to look at the screen. You can’t feel where the button is like you could with a real knob.
I think the solution for this problem can be bringing back physical knobs for the most important things like volume and temperature. This uses what Norman calls “tactile feedback” so that you can feel the click of the knob and know exactly what you’re doing without looking away from the road.
- How can you apply some of the author’s principles of design to interactive media?
On a website buttons should look like buttons (maybe with a shadow or a bright color). This provides the user a visual cue. When you click “Submit” on a form, the button should change color or a loading circle should appear. This lets you know the website actually giving you an instant response and is actually working. Also, I found natural layout principle very useful because now I know that controls should be placed in a logical way. For example, I should put important buttons on the right side of the screen because that’s the direction we read and move forward. Moreover, Conceptual I would use icons that people already understand. A trash can icon for deleting files or a house icon for the home page helps users understand how the app works instantly because it is already familiar to them.