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Usability methods are like sandpapering a chair.

Alan Cooper

And as soon as any object exhibits sufficient cognitive function, those instincts kick in and we react as though we were interacting with another sentient human being.
ALAN COOPER

Being Human Interact Object React Sentiment Soon Sufficient
Computer memories work in a manner alien to human memories. My memory lets me recognize the faces of my friends, whereas my own computer never even recognizes me.
ALAN COOPER

Alien Computer Facemfriend Human Manner Memory Own Recognize Work
Because computers have memories, we imagine that they must be something like our human memories, but that is simply not true.
ALAN COOPER

Computer Human Imagine Memory Simply Something True
My computer’s memory stores a million phone numbers with perfect accuracy, but I have to stop and think to recall my own.
ALAN COOPER

Accuracy Stop Computer Memory Million Number Own Perfect Phone Recall Store
In other words, humans have special instincts that tell them how to behave around other sentient beings.
ALAN COOPER

Around Begin Behave Human Instinct Other Sentient Special Tell Word
It has also been said that the software industry is an example of midgets standing on the toes of other midgets.
ALAN COOPER

Industry Midget Software Stand Toe
I just try and learn to be a good husband and be a good father before I am a good rock star. That means saying no to certain things that go with the business.
ALAN COOPER

Before Business Certain Father Good Husband Just Learn Rock Star Thing Try
Keep it simple: In general, interfaces should use simple geometric forms, minimal contours, and a restricted color palette comprised primarily of less-saturated or neutral colors balanced with a few high contrast accent colors that emphasize important information.
ALAN COOPER

Balance Color Contour Contrast Form General Geometric High Interface Keep Minimal Palette Restrict Should Simple
Well madam, have you looked in the mirror and seen the state of your nose? Boxing is my excuse. What’s yours?
ALAN COOPER

Boxing Excuse Look Madam Mirror Nose Seen State Well
A powerful tool in the early stages of developing scenarios is to pretend the interface is magic.
ALAN COOPER

Early Interface Magic Powerful Pretend Scenario Stage Tool
While making art you should just do what is in your heart.
ALAN COOPER

Do Heart Just Make
To scenes by memory’s silver chain Close-linked, and ever yet apart, That like the vine, whose tendrils young Around some fostering branch have clung, Grown with its growth, as tho’ it sprung From one united heart.
ALAN COOPER

Around Branch Foster Memory Scene Silver Sprung Tendril Until Vine Young
No matter how beautiful, no matter how cool your interface, it would be better if there were less of it.
ALAN COOPER

Beautiful Better Cool Interface Less Matter
Run for your lives-the computers are invading. Awesomely powerful computers tackling ever more important tasks with awkward, old-fashioned interfaces.
ALAN COOPER

Computer Invade Life Live Run
In turn, we will be tempted to kill our computers, but we won’t dare because we are already utterly, irreversibly dependent on these hopeful monsters that make modern life possible.
ALAN COOPER

Computer Dependent Hopeful Irreversible Kill Life Modern Monster Possible
We don’t fight about music. We don’t fight about artistic direction.
ALAN COOPER

Artistic Direction Fight Music Think

Usability methods are like sandpapering a chair.

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Usability methods are like sandpapering a chair.

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