Contents
1 What is humanware? p 5
Humanware embraces everything in the design which makes it easier for human beings to handle the product – everything from aspects which make it behave in a way that humans understand, to a comprehensible instruction. If we have an overall view when developing these things we have a greater chance of achieving a satisfactory total result: a product that is easy and safe to use and look after.
2 Man as a design unit p 15
Human beings form an integrated part of the product, e.g. as a user or repairer. The consideration we must give them while designing the product is dependent on people’s ability to handle their surroundings.
3 Without memory the world would stand still p 33
Most things which humans try to do are dependent on memory. However, immature technology makes excessive demands on the user’s memory. The result is incorrect handling, which reduces the total performance of the product.
4 Interface between man and the outside world p 45
It is just as important to have a good interface to the human user as to other units in a construction.
5 We have to live with human errors p 57
The human is an error-prone component. This must be taken into consideration when we design them into the product. Human errors should preferably not lead to a catastrophe, and should be easy to correct.
6 The human being is an integrated part of the product p 65
Offensive humanware tries to avoid problems; defensive humanware tries to solve them after they have arisen.
7 Analyses provide a basis p 79
The basis for design of humanware is obtained by analysing possible situations in which the product is to be handled, what functions people must be able to fulfil and what potentials these people have for doing so.
8 Functional testing ensures realism p 91
The person developing an product is unrepresentative, and can have difficulty in judging if its humanware works. If the function is tested on outsiders it is easier to identify the aspects that need to be improved.
9 Designing humanware p 99
The human’s task “in the product” is to perceive, decide and act. To facilitate this handling the designer has many forms of humanware to choose between, more or less integrated into the product.
10 Choosing a suitable structure p 107
Good structure, for example in procedures and panels, helps the human user to know what has to be done and how to do it.
11 Help the memory p 117
We can help the user’s memory by designing in a way that reduces demands on the memory, by using design to help the user to remember things or by helping the user to learn things.
12 Vary signal type and emphasis p 125
The signals, intentional and unintentional, which the product gives human users (e.g. acoustic, light and touch signals) can be varied in strength to make them easier to register and interpret.
13 Reduce the amount of work p 131
If we overload the human user the result will be poor function. By removing functions which are not absolutely necessary, we can reduce the risk of exceeding the loading limit.
14 The human is always the measure p 139
How to adapt the product to the human users’ physical limitations so that they are not faced with impossible situations or subjected to wear injuries.
15 Case study: Programming a video recorder p 149
How the humanware can be improved in a programmable apparatus.
16 Case study: Furniture kit p 163
How the humanware can be improved in a product that has to be assembled.
17 Case study: Electronic car pilot p 175
How the humanware can be designed for a product to be used in a situation which is already demanding a large part of the human user’s available capacity (in this case driving a road vehicle).
18 Suggested solutions to exercises p 191
19 Further reading p 225
20 Alphabetical index p 236