Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
19 used & new from £2.56

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Things That Make Us Smart: Defending Human Attributes in the Age of the Machine
 
 

Things That Make Us Smart: Defending Human Attributes in the Age of the Machine (Paperback)

by Donald A. Norman (Author), Tamara Dunaeff (Author) "THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT TECHNOLOGY CAN MAKE US SMART ..." (more)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
Price: £11.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Usually dispatched within 10 to 14 days.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

10 new from £7.76 9 used from £2.56
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 8 used & new from £2.35

Frequently Bought Together

Things That Make Us Smart: Defending Human Attributes in the Age of the Machine + The Design of Everyday Things + Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things
Price For All Three: £29.47

Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Show details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Design of Everyday Things

The Design of Everyday Things

by Don Norman
4.0 out of 5 stars (25)  £8.99
The Invisible Computer: Why Good Products Can Fail, the Personal Computer is So Complex and Information Appliances are the Solution

The Invisible Computer: Why Good Products Can Fail, the Personal Computer is So Complex and Information Appliances are the Solution

by Da Norman
Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things

Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things

by Donald A. Norman
3.8 out of 5 stars (6)  £8.49
Turn Signals are the Facial Expressions of Automobiles

Turn Signals are the Facial Expressions of Automobiles

by Donald A. Norman
Design of Future Things, The

Design of Future Things, The

by Donald Norman
1.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £13.59
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Perseus Books,U.S.; New edition edition (31 Mar 1994)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0201626950
  • ISBN-13: 978-0201626957
  • Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 14.7 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 514,396 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Product Description
In Things That Make Us Smart, Donald A. Norman explores the complex interaction between human thought and the technology it creates, arguing for the development of machines that fit our minds, rather than minds that must conform to the machine. Humans have always worked with objects to extend our cognitive powers, from counting on our fingers to designing massive supercomputers. But advanced technology does more than merely assist with thought and memorythe machines we create begin to shape how we think and, at times, even what we value. Norman, in exploring this complex relationship between humans and machines, gives us the first steps towards demanding a person-centered redesign of the machines that surround our lives.

From the Author
People propose, science studies, technology conforms
This is my favorite book. So, if you liked "The Psychology of Everyday Things (or the paperback version entitled "The Design of Everyday Things"), or "Turn Signals Are the Facial Expressions of Automobiles," then you should also like this one.

The theme of the book is that tehcnology can indeed enhance human intelligence, but only if it is properly built to fit human abilities and needs. Alas, all too often it isn't. All too often it is people who must conform to the technology. The proper way is, of course, for technology to conform to people.

I review everything from science museums (except for the San Francisco Exploratorium, I have a pretty low opinion of them) to voice-mail answering systems (ugh). With a sense of humour (well, you have to be the judge), and with the aim of providing constructive criticism.

I try to be a fan of technology: too bad the technologists get in the way.


Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT TECHNOLOGY CAN MAKE US SMART. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
usability
design
john dewey
interaction design
hfid
donald a norman
cognitive science
cognitive psychology
cognition
affordances

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but Simplistic, 21 Dec 1998
By A Customer
I have to preface this review by saying that I'm probably a tough audience for this sort of book -- I have a PhD in cognitive psych, and I work as a research scientist with a specialist in interface designs. With that caveat, I have to say that the book was very readable and enjoyable, but I was constantly wondering "Where's the Beef?"

Much of the research he reviewed was rather old, even at the time of publication, and most of the analysis of them elaborated too much, without really being that trenchant. I found myself skipping ahead about halfway through the book when I knew the point of a chapter after a page or two, and didn't find any surprises along the way.

A good "gee-whiz" book for those new to cognitive psych or human factors, but a bit of a let-down for the specialist.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I read, I like, I recommend, 13 Jul 1998
By A Customer
As a student at the University of California, San Diego, the native school of Dr. Donald Norman, I had the good fortune of reading Things That Make Us Smart as a textbook. I can now truthfully say that this has been the ONLY textbook that I enjoyed reading, and in fact, looked forward to reading. Norman is a witty and clever writer - he uses humor so subtly that it feels as if someone is tickling you throughout the book, and though you don't burst out laughing, you have a really good time. Through his humor, Norman conveys a very important message about technology and human interaction with it - with outstanding examples to which anyone can relate, he clearly explains how we have shaped and can shape our environments to, in fact, make us smart.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


Fun for Everyone

Christmas Gifts
Achieve over 15,000 RPM with our great range of Powerballs.

Shop the Powerball store

 

More From Donald A. Norman

The Design of...

The Design of Everyday Things

First, businesses discovered quality as a key competitive edge; next... Read more
£9.99 £8.99

 

A Close Shave

Philips Nivea Coolskin HS8060 Moisturizing Rotary Shaving System
For all types of hair removal, stay smooth with Amazon.co.uk.

Discover Shaving & Hair Removal

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates