Home // International Journal On Advances in Intelligent Systems, volume 9, numbers 3 and 4, 2016 // View article

Old Habits as a Resource for Design: On Learning and Un-learning Bodily Knowledge

Authors:
Tone Bratteteig
Guri Verne

Keywords: usability; habits; automated behaviour; automation; participatory design

Abstract:
There are many reasons why artifacts and systems are difficult to use in practice. In this paper, we investigate such difficulties as a basis for design for ease of use. Difficulties may stem from the artifact or system itself, or from the artifact or system in use in its real use context. Technology introduces new tasks, and both learning new tasks and unlearning old habits can be challenging. We discuss how users’ previous knowledge and habits can be used to understand how and why an artefact is difficult to use. This understanding is useful for designing artefacts that are easy to use. We end the paper with presenting a conceptual framework for design for coherence and simplicity from the users’ perspective, where users’ habits and bodily knowledge act as resources for design.

Pages: 496 to 506

Copyright: Copyright (c) to authors, 2016. Used with permission.

Publication date: December 31, 2016

Published in: journal

ISSN: 1942-2679