The Design Of A Bicycle

The design of the bicycle is a fairly good one. Pedaling forward is analogous to walking, and steering is fairly intuitive. All the parts are visible, and fairly easy to see when something goes wrong. Some problems may arise with the brakes, if one goes fast and is inexperience with the bike, braking the front tires with the handles can result in someone topling over the handle bars. Components to adjust the seat can range from fairly intuitive to more complicated than necessary. For the most part however, the bike is a very simple device to use. After all, the task is frequently learned by children. Across the world this device is used, and once mastered it becomes subconcious to operate. It is often said, "Once you learn to ride a bike, you never forget".

Middle Ages Tech Support

An interesting take on the adaptation of "new technology"

A Review of "The Design of Everyday Things"

In Donald A. Norman's book, "The Design of Everyday Things", he presents many interesting viewpoint and considerations about how things are designed. Norman has several points he reiterates in a variety of ways, but much of the book is repeating the same thing in different ways and further derivations. One very important dichotomy presented in the book is difference between a user views a device and a designer views the device. Designers focus on functions, users focus on tasks. In order for users to correctly use something, they need to have a mental model of the device, which the designer can only communicate to them through the device itself. The designer can do this in a variety of ways, including visibility and feedback. Many of the specific points he makes about technological designs have been addressed, and some of the prominent technology is no longer used commonly (i.e. VCR's), so the book may feel dated, but the principles communicated and the message behind the book.

Overall, I would recommend it to anyone interested in design.

First Post!

This is a blog about design... for school... cool.