Quotes by Donald A. Norman

“Despite oft-mentioned concerns about higher energy and commodity prices, a lower growth rate for consumer spending, a slowing of the housing and auto sectors, and higher interest rates, the manufacturing sector appears to be on solid footing and poised for yet another year of expansion.”

“This forward-looking index points to continued expansion in most manufacturing industries.”

“The profit margin index is well above the 50%-level, indicating that, for most firms, profit margins are higher than one year ago, when margins were showing improvement from their depressed levels throughout 2001-2002.”

“Just 8% of the respondents reported that backlogs are down from last year, while 66% said that backlogs are higher.”

“This forward-looking index indicates broad optimism that the expansion of manufacturing activity will continue throughout the year.”

“While a few manufacturing industries--in particular, the auto industry -- face challenges, the overall manufacturing sector appears to be on very solid footing for at least the near term.”

Will robot teachers replace human teachers? No, but they can complement them. Moreover, the could be sufficient in situations where there is no alternative––to enable learning while traveling, or while in remote locations, or when one wishes to study a topic for which there is not easy access to teachers. Robot teachers will help make lifelong learning a practicality. They can make it possible to learn no matter where one is in the world, no matter the time of day. Learning should take place when it is needed, when the learner is interested, not according to some arbitrary, fixed schedule

Could we ever switch to this or any of the many other rational systems? Unlikely: tradition is difficult to overcome.

What makes something simple or complex? Its not the number of dials or controls or how many features it has: It is whether the person using the device has a good conceptual model of how it operates.

adults forget how difficult that task was.

Any time you see signs or labels added to a device, it is an indication of bad design: a simple lock should not require instructions.