Information Quote by Calvin Mooers
““An information retrieval system will tend not to be used whenever it is more painful and troublesome for a customer to have information than for him not to have it... Where an information retrieval system tends not to be used, a more capable information retrieval system may tend to be used even less.””
About This Quote
Source Paper: “Information Retrieval and the User,” 1971
People avoid systems that make information harder to obtain than to ignore.
In simple terms: Hard-to-use info systems are ignored.
Key Takeaway
Design intuitive, user‑friendly retrieval tools.
Themes
usability
information
behavior
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
technical
educational
When to use this quote
- search engines
- customer support portals
- knowledge bases
Key Concepts
human‑computer interaction
cognitive load
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do users avoid certain tools?
- How can we simplify access?
A Different Perspective
Complex systems may still be underused despite capabilities.
