SWE 205 In-Class Exercise
Affordances and Signifiers
Group, Names:
Work with your group.
Choose at least two objects. At least one of your choices should be "real";
and at least one should be electronic.
Try to choose well-designed objects.
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Identify intended affordances.
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Identify signifiers for the intended affordances.
(Note that unintended affordances cannot, by definition, have associated signifiers.)
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Often, information for how to access an object's affordances is not visible.
That is, signifiers may be deliberately left out.
If appropriate, identify this situation.
How is this dealt with for your chosen object?
Some possible objects/devices. Please choose something else.
- Sunglasses.
- An (old-school) metal house key.
- Faucets. Just like doors, Norman spent a lot of time thinking
about faucets.
- A food delivery app (e.g. UberEats).
- An automated driving system in a car.
Be prepared to share with the class and defend your identification
of signifiers and affordances. Be concrete: Use one or more images of
your chosen object.