Computation Quote by Donald A. Norman
“Computer scientists have so far worked on developing powerful programming languages that make it possible to solve the technical problems of computation. Little effort has gone toward devising the languages of interaction.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Design of Everyday Things, 2013
Programming languages excel at technical tasks, but we lack languages for human interaction, limiting user experience design.
In simple terms: We need better languages for human-computer interaction.
Key Takeaway
Develop interaction design vocabularies and tools.
Themes
design
human-computer interaction
language
Mood
practical
forward-looking
Type
educational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- software development
- product design
- education
- team collaboration
Key Concepts
interaction design
user experience
communication theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we create intuitive interaction languages?
- What barriers exist in teaching interaction design?
A Different Perspective
Technical languages already exist; integration is challenging.
![“Hypertext makes a virtue out of lack of organization, allowing ideas and thoughts to be juxtaposed at will. [...] The advent of hypertext is apt to make writing much more difficult, not easier. Good writing, that is.” quote by Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/662/donald-a-norman-6862_advent_hypertext-makes-a-virtue-out-of-lack-of_51804.jpg)
