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Donald A. Norman
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The Invisible Computer: Why Good Products Can Fail, the Personal Computer Is So Complex, and Information Appliances Are the Solution Reprint Edition

by Donald A. Norman (Author)
3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 26 ratings
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From "Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Conforms" (motto of the 1933 Chicago USA World's Fair)to "People Propose, Science Studies, Technology Conforms" (Donald Norman's person-centered motto for the twenty-first centuray).

Technologies have a life cycle, says Donald Norman, and companies and their products must change as they pass from youth to maturity. Alas, the computer industry thinks it is still in its rebellious teenage years, exulting in technical complexity. Customers want change. They are ready for products that offer convenience, ease of use, and pleasure. The technology should be invisible, hidden from sight.

In this book, Norman shows why the computer is so difficult to use and why this complexity is fundamental to its nature. The only answer, says Norman, is to start over again, to develop information appliances that fit people's needs and lives. To do this companies must change the way they develop products. They need to start with an understanding of people: user needs first, technology lastthe opposite of how things are done now.

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  1. ISBN-10
    0262640414
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0262640411
  3. Edition
    Reprint
  4. Publication date
    August 20, 1999
  5. Language
    English
  6. Dimensions
    8.95 x 5.99 x 0.72 inches
  7. Print length
    316 pages
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Business Week has named Don Norman as one of the world's most influential designers. He has been both a professor and an executive: he was Vice President of Advanced Technology at Apple; his company, the Nielsen Norman Group, helps companies produce human-centered products and services; he has been on the faculty at Harvard, the University of California, San Diego, Northwestern University, and KAIST, in South Korea. He is the author of many books, including The Design of Everyday Things, The Invisible Computer (MIT Press, 1998), Emotional Design, and The Design of Future Things.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ MIT Press; Reprint edition (August 20, 1999)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 316 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0262640414
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0262640411
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 12 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.95 x 5.99 x 0.72 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 26 ratings

About the author

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Donald A. Norman

Donald A. Norman

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Don Norman takes special delight in the interaction of people and technology. "Develop the skill of observation," he says, "and especially pay attention to the obvious, for this is where you will discover many hidden insights. What seems to be obvious often is not."

Business Week has named him one of "the world's most influential designers," the influence from his books, essays, courses and students, lectures, and consulting.

He is a fellow of many organizations, including the American Association of Arts and Sciences. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineers and former lots of things, including VP at Apple Computer, President of a startup, and co-founder of the Nielsen Norman group. He has honorary degrees from the University of Padua (Italy), the Technical University Delft (the Netherlands), and the University of San Marino. He was awarded the Benjamin Franklin medal in Computer and Cognitive Science and the Sir Misha Black medal for contributions to Design Education.

He is known for his books "The Design of Everyday Things," "Emotional Design," "Living with Complexity," and "The Design of Future Things," but he is most proud of his students all over the world, who put into practice his human-centered design philosophy.

His latest book is Design for a Better World: meaningful, sustainable, humanity centered" which draws upon his rich history to address some of the most pressing problems facing the world today. The real issues are not technical, nor can they be solved simply by technology. The most difficult is human behavior, which is why design can play such an important role. Design is a way of thinking, of solving the core underlying issues, combining a knowledge of technology, all areas of human activity, and most important of all, human behavior.

He lives at www.jnd.org, where you can find chapters from his books and loads of essays.

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    excelent price and excelent quality.
    great book to have a good vision about technology and user experience
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  • Kathy E. Gill
    4.0 out of 5 stars Best for its explanation of infrastructure goods
    Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 1999
    Verified Purchase
    The historical case studies are fascinating -- but the best chapter, in my opinion, has little to do with "information appliances" and much to do with the nature of monopoly systems.
    I'm educated as an economist and found Norman's descriptions of an infrastructure market (historically the 'natural' monopoly market of power and telephone companies) a compelling read -- and a must read for anyone following the DOJ-MSFT trial.
    While I agree with his premise that the machines need to become 'simple to use' -- I'm still having trouble seeing lots of individual "appliances." However, I think the iMac may have captured some of Norman's philosophies.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • John Tan
    1.0 out of 5 stars Can't believe this got past the editor. Can't believe this got past the editor!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2009
    I only at chapter 2, but I need to rant. I'll update this review when/if I finish the book. I can't believe they allowed this to be published, the writing is horrible. Chapter 2 could be done in 5 pages, but Norman goes on and on REPEATING the same ideas and sentences. Every 2 pages he goes through the exact same points again, many keywords are reused. It's just a pain to read.

    I haven't finished reading this book but I needed to take time out to rant. Maybe I'll update this review when I finish reading...this review is longer than it needs to be...due to repetitions...just like this book.
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  • kaizen
    5.0 out of 5 stars All CIO should change the plicy for the PC.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2008
    All CIO should change the policy fot the PC.
    Many people waste many time to manage the complexed PC.
    If there is a simple computer, we can make happy.
    It is sad taha there is no simple computer.
    ps.
    "Being analog" is a title of section 7, and a part of Japanese version title of this book.
    If we can do analog, we will be happy.
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  • james Richards
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, although difficult to accept his major thesis
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2002
    This book covers in detail the role technology has pervasively interrupted our lives by intruding into everyday living. His major point is that we should have small, independent devices that do one task and one task well, rather than a general-purpose computer to do many tasks. Personally as a technologist I disagree with his major assumptions and points and found the book and some of it's major themes troubling.
    An example is the way children interact with computers compared to senior citizens. When a child grows up with something is becomes natural. Most children who have access to a computer at an early stage find it as natural as using a video/DVD player, television or CD player. If the technology is introduced at an early stage it become part of the natural language of the child. Normal disagrees with this, and I think although he is a well researched observer that this is one failing of the book.
    It wasn't until I reached the last quarter of the book that I could start to agree with his ideas and see the point he was trying to make. That is that some devices work as an appliance. The examples of the TiVo (which we don't have here in Australia) seem best to fit the example. They do one thing, and do it well. Network Computers are the other example, where the complexity of the device is hidden from the user (although he still feels uncomfortable with NC's as they are still "computers".)
    Norman's style of writing made me think I had skipped back a few pages every now and then as he often will repeat himself in greater detail over points he thinks are important.
    If you're a technologist you should read it. But don't take it as gospel. Although Normal is correct in some of his point, you need to use your own experience and environment to understand the points he is trying to make, rather than accepting them carte blanch.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Ruben Ocampo
    2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting in some points, yet redundant
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2001
    Don Norman makes his point early on Chapter two about the current situation of computer technologies and what companies have done and should do about it. His examples are sometimes useful, but he didn't need to write 300 pages to explain something other people have said before and he could have reaffirmed in a long article.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • dean_kagawa@hp.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to take a step back from using PCs.......
    Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 1998
    A very good book, in a very easy to read style. The author makes a number of good points about why PCs are such pigs to use. I've personally always felt that PC stood for "pig computer". I have always believed that where we are today with computers is where the automobile was in the early 1900's. Back then, you had to be part machinist, part chemist, part electrician, part mechanic, to run and keep your auto running. Today, you have to be part OS expert, part networking expert, part hardware hack, and part wizard to run and keep your computer running. The author uses a number of excellent models to show in the past how technology has disappeared to make our lives easier today. Thanks for a very good book.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Hugo
    1.0 out of 5 stars The item was never delivered
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I've made multiple book orders from different shops, and AwesomeBooks was the ONLY ONE that sent me this message 4 months after i made the purchase:

    The book was returned to us by the postal carrier with explanation 'Not called for'.
    This indicates the postman attempted delivery but was unable to reach you when someone was home.

    The postal carrier didn't called me, emailed me or anything.
    All books bought in other shops were delivered except the one bought here. I will never buy anything from AwesomeBooks anymore.
    Report
  • Maria Clara Martins
    1.0 out of 5 stars Scribbled and folded pages
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Book is NOT in the promised good condition.
    Folded pages and pen scribbles in many places.
    The book has a folding mark.
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  • Exmonkey
    2.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly boring but got me through my course
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2000
    Verified Purchase
    In common with both of his that books I've had to read as part of my multimedia technology course The invisible Computer is a long winded and repetative account of how the world of computers should be, in Norman's opinion. I am glad to pass my course, and also glad to not have to read Donald Norman's books again. PS Anyone want to buy two slightly used editions?
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