Re:Dynamicland Communal Computer
by bch on Monday April 01, 2019 @02:09AM
(#19540925)
> There really should be a name for the phenomenon
I’d say it’s a sort of affordance[0], but I’m sure Don Norman[1] suggested material properties can be described as the “psychology of materials” in his book[2]. He describes how British Rail kept building tougher and tougher glass that was still always being broken, but when it was replaced with plywood the vandalism stopped, even though the wood would be easy to break. Certain materials (and designs) beg to be used (and abused) in certain ways.
I’d say it’s a sort of affordance[0], but I’m sure Don Norman[1] suggested material properties can be described as the “psychology of materials” in his book[2]. He describes how British Rail kept building tougher and tougher glass that was still always being broken, but when it was replaced with plywood the vandalism stopped, even though the wood would be easy to break. Certain materials (and designs) beg to be used (and abused) in certain ways.
[0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordance
[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Norman
[2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Design_of_Everyday_Thing...