Message from Dean - May 8th 2007
I am currently testing out a new version of the APF Bridge Component - If you notice any errors within this demo store please drop me a line.
List Price: $44.99Amazon.com's Price: $36.51 You Save: $8.48 (19%)Prices subject to change.
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 004.019
EAN: 9780201379372
ISBN: 0201379376
Label: Addison-Wesley Professional
Manufacturer: Addison-Wesley Professional
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 256
Publication Date: April 08, 2000
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Studio: Addison-Wesley Professional
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com Review:
"The book that explains why you really hate computers."
I've admired Jef Raskin for years. For those who don't know, he is the "Father of the Macintosh," one of the original geniuses who guided the Mac in the early days. But, more than a computer scientist, Raskin is a cognitive psychologist. He studies how the brain works with special emphasis on how that relates to us using computers. His magnum opus was the Canon Cat, which was an excellent and well-thought-out little computer.
In The Humane Interface, Raskin goes into detail describing how computers can be made easier to understand and use. Ever want to know why you really don't like Windows? The answer is in this book. In fact, there's so much in this book that makes sense, I really want to send a copy to every employee at Microsoft.
I loved reading this book and nodding my head in rabid agreement. Raskin states, "There has never been any technical reason for a computer to take more than a few seconds to begin operation when it is turned on." So why then does Windows (or Linux!) take so darn long to start up? The PalmPilot is on instantly, as is your cell phone. But for some reason, we tolerate the computer taking a few eons to start. (And until consumers complain about it, things won't change.)
Computers can be easy to use, and the people who design them and design software need to read this book. Do you ever get the impression that the person who designed a piece of software must have come from the same company that designed the front panel on your VCR? Why should you have to double-click anything? What does Ctrl+D mean one thing in one program and a completely different thing in another? And what's the point of the Yes/No confirmation if the user is in the habit of clicking Yes without thinking about it? Raskin neatly probes all these areas.
While I admire everything Raskin has to say, the book is pretty heavy on the psychology end. Myself, I enjoy cognitive psychology (especially books by Raskin's cohort Donald Norman), though some may find that part of the book boring. Even so, Raskin builds and backs his argument in a most eloquent and scientific manner. Especially if you design software or need to teach or train people to use computers, this book deserves a spot on your shelf. --Dan Gookin
Product Description:
The honeymoon with digital technology is over: millions of users are tired of having to learn huge, arcane programs to perform the simplest tasks; fatigued by the pressure of constant upgrades, and have had enough of system crashes. In The Humane Interface, Jef Raskin -- the legendary, controversial creator of the original Apple Macintosh project -- shows that there is another path. Raskin explains why today's interface techniques lead straight to a dead end, and offers breakthrough ideas for building systems users will understand -- and love. Raskin reveals the fundamental design failures at the root of the problems so many users experience; shows how to understand user interfaces scientifically and quantitatively; and introduces fundamental principles that should underlie any next-generation user interface. He introduces practical techniques designers can use to improve their productivity of any product with an information-oriented human-machine interface, from personal computers to Internet appliances and beyond. The book presents breakthrough solutions for navigation, error management, and more, with detailed case studies from Raskin's own work. For all interface design programmers, product designers, software developers, IT managers, and corporate managers.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
I learned a lot from this book. Not just how to design efficient interfaces for software, but also how to design efficient interfaces for HUMANS. Some earlier reviewers, "A Customer" in particular, seem to have misunderstood the concepts that Jef so finely explained. Yes, he suggests making content the interface itself because that's what computers are for--creating, editing, and navigating your content. One of Jef's Asimov-esque principles is "Under no circumstance should your computer harm your content or let it come to harm through inaction." Indeed. Hence we should eliminate the Save "feature" and instead the computer should save EVERY action you do AUTOMATICALLY. This way, no matter what happens, your content will be safe--even if there's a power outage.
Jef's key concept was giving the user the complete power of the computer at any time. This means displaying the user's content in a Zoomable User Interface (ZUI; what he termed "ZoomWorld") and allowing the user to access ... Read More
Rating: -
An interesting read, although many of his examples seem quite outdated. Most of the examples of bad user interfaces come from either Microsoft Windows, or a very old version of Microsoft Word running on a Mac. Most of his examples of good use interfaces come from the ancient Canon Cat computer, or occasionally from the original Macintosh project.
The book does spend a fair amount of time describing various laws and rules for evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of user interface designs. This portion of the text is sure to remain valid throughout the years.
Although not exactly a page turner, I would recommend this book for anybody who designs user interfaces on a regular basis - even if you don't use the laws described, at least knowing about them is likely to make you design better interfaces unconsciously.
Rating: -
The level of detail in this book was appropriate and helpful for the field, while not overly boring and technical. Real-world examples given, which are still useful despite the fast development of new systems. Some improvements visible in New Operating Systems, which gives the suggestions validity in the industry.
Rating:  -
The author brings up some interesting issues, and has some very interesting ideas about user interface design. At the very least, it gets you questioning some practices that may have seemed beyond questioning. The author's credibility vanished for me when he suggested that file names and directory structures should be done away with in favour of full text searches because file names are just to hard to remember! That said, there are some good ideas, particularly in chapter 6.
Rating: -
A wonderful introduction too user interface design based on real science, a model for a sucessful OS interface, and Raskins personal thoughts.
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