reflecting on day two

Understanding human cognition is important to design because when we understand how people process information, we can better anticipate how they might interact with a particular design. Problems can be addressed before a product is released if the designers consider mental processes that occur within the individual users. If we know that humans have a limited attention span or capacity, then we will not overwhelm our users with too much information to remember or too many visuals that might lead to distraction.

If designers understand the concept of affordances, they can customize their designs to correspond with the way a user will perceive certain items - for example, I know I need to push a button and turn a knob, but if the knob looks like a button, then I might think it affords being pressed. Once I done the action I perceive the tool to afford and no action results, I will be frustrated with the design. Designers should aim to minimize the users frustration and making clearly defined buttons from knobs and pushes from pulls ensures a more satisfied user.

Using metaphors can also be a powerful tool in design and understanding how these work for users is crucial for the designers. Relating a somewhat complex system or idea to a basic concept that we interact with in our everday lives can help reduce user frustration. If we look at the entire CBC website, complete with TV, radio and newspaper information, as a daily newspaper we are not overwhelemd by all of the information the site contains. It is divided into the same sections as the daily newspaper that might arrive at your doorstep, but then it goes beyond that to offer archived articles, television show websites and info, radio info and broadcasting, and much more all at your fingertips.

Understanding the complexities of human cognition can help designers create simple, user-friendly products that will keep customers satisfied.

As for neuroplasticity, it has to do with the way the neurological storing and organization of information and the way this information can be moved from one location to another within the brain. For example, I might store an experience in my short term memory, but through certain processes, that experience can move to and be stored in my long term memory. Understanding that certain things that were once unfamiliar can become automatic behaviours is important for designers because they should ulitmately be striving for the use of their products to become automatic within their users.

If a design is too overwhelming or if an interface hosts too much information, the user will probably become frustrated and give up on learning how to use the product. Ensuring that designs are simple and streamlined helps increase the likelihood that information will be stored in the long term memory and that automatic behaviour will develop.