The day I started to work at the Crossmedialab I tried to adjust my chair. It is one of those typical office chairs that should be adjustable in every thinkable fashion. I managed to change it in several ways - armrests, seat, back - but I just couldn’t figure out how to adjust the height. A pretty standard and therefore easy accessible option, I would say. Because I am an engineer, I forced myself to understand how it works. So I first turned the chair upside down to see the mechanisms, but they were all covered up. It was only after a few frustrating attempts of pushing and pulling all kind of parts of the chair that I figured out how to change the height of the thing.

To my opinion the chair - or the designer, that is - should give me clear visual hints on how to adjust it. A lever affords pulling, a door with no handle affords pushing, a cup affords pouring fluids into it and so on. Something that is generally known as affordance or to be more precise perceived affordance. Donald Norman describes perceived affordance as: “The appearance of the device could provide the critical clues required for its proper operation” .    

So, I didn’t perceive any good affordance of the way to operate the chair properly. And that frustrated me. Desk chairs are around for many decades. So they should at least have reasonable affordance to be operated properly. Of course this not only goes for desk chairs, but for any technology. But I often see that designers prefer ‘eye-candy’ above the functionality and that can lead to bad affordance. And that, on its turn, can lead to frustration of the user.

Oh, and you can adjust the height of the mentioned desk chair by pulling (!) a small knob that actually affords pushing. It’s placed at the bottom of the right armrest. But to my opinion an explanation about this function shouldn’t be necessary.

[1] Norman, D.A., Affordance, Conventions and Design.

tagged with: deskchair, affordance, form follows function

Comments

nikedianduo123 on 13 April 2012 at 14:36

[url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-dunks-c-239.html]Nike Dunks[/url] The styled footwear [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-dunks-nike-dunk-high-c-239_244.html]Nike Dunk High[/url] was first introduced by [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-dunks-nike-dunk-low-c-239_256.html]Nike Dunk Low[/url] Nikes in 1985, and after such [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-griffey-max-1-c-245_254.html]Nike Air Griffey Max 1[/url] a long period of 26 years, the dunks came in three [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com]Nike Dunk High[/url] styles which [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-air-max-c-245.html]Nike Air MAX[/url] are the Nike Dunk High, [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-griffey-max-2-c-245_281.html]Nike Air Griffey Max 2[/url] Nike Dunk Mid [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-max-247-c-245_260.html]Nike Air Max 24/7[/url] and Nike Dunk Low. The Nike Dunks would be the one of most popular shoes follow after [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-max-2011-c-245_251.html]Nike Air Max 2011[/url] Nike Air Force 1 [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-max-2010-c-245_259.html]Nike Air Max 2010[/url] [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/air-jordan-shoes-c-247.html]Air Jordan Shoes[/url] which the earliest [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-lebron-8-c-246.html]Nike Lebron 8[/url] basketball shoes designed by Nike for court. The Nike Dunks [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-zoom-hyperfuse-c-282.html]Nike Zoom Hyperfuse[/url] were also first created for [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-dunk-heels-c-243.html]Nike Dunk Heels[/url] basketball [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-max-95-c-245_252.html]Nike Air Max 95[/url] but later [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-max-90-c-245_253.html]Nike Air Max 90[/url] they are [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-air-force-1-c-249.html]Nike Air Force 1[/url] more attractive [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-2012-c-247_287.html]Air Jordan 2012[/url] by many [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/zoom-kobe-7-c-285.html]Zoom Kobe 7[/url] skateboarding fans, [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com]nike free run 2[/url] they keep many new designed [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-air-presto-c-274.html]Nike Air Presto[/url] characters and designed construction [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-11-c-247_267.html]Air Jordan 11[/url] for the shoes to promote them as the [url=http://http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/zoom-kobe-6-c-263.html]Zoom Kobe 6[/url] most popular [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/air-jordan-shoes-jordan-fly-wade-c-247_276.html]Jordan Fly Wade[/url] sneakers in [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/adidas-climacool-ride-c-241.html]Adidas ClimaCool Ride[/url] nowaday world. [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-2011-c-247_266.html]Air Jordan 2011[/url] There is no doubt that Nike Dunk High are known as [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-1-c-247_279.html]Air Jordan 1[/url] one of the classic style. When Nike Dunk High SB were selling, their variation of colors [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/adidas-adizero-crazy-light-c-265.html]Adidas adizero Crazy Light[/url] specifically designed to match [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-13-c-247_268.html]Air Jordan 13[/url] college team [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-free-run-2-c-242.html]Nike Free Run 2[/url] uniforms. In fact, [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-2-c-247_271.html]Air Jordan 2[/url] the design of Nike Dunks [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-lebron-9-c-286.html]Nike Lebron 9[/url] took the design of basketball [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/adidas-adizero-rose-c-264.html]Adidas adiZero Rose[/url] shoes as a prototype, so have an [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-free-run-3-c-288.html]Nike Free Run 3[/url] excellent sense of grip and [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-3-c-247_283.html]Air Jordan 3[/url] venues feeling, [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-free-30-c-278.html]Nike Free 3.0[/url] to ensure the best players in the [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-5-c-247_280.html]Air Jordan 5[/url] field that can compact and [url=http://www.sneakerwin2012.com/nike-free-run-c-277.html]Nike Free Run[/url] stable movement.
[url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/]Cheap nike shoes[/url] The first impression [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/air-jordan-shoes-c-1951.html]Air Jordan Shoes[/url] you get when you [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-dunks-nike-dunk-high-c-1953_1961.html]Nike Dunk High[/url] glance at the [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-dunks-c-1953.html]Nike Dunks[/url] Air Jordan Shoes [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-dunks-nike-dunk-low-c-1953_1981.html]Nike Dunk Low[/url] 2012 is that it’s partly inspired from a [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-air-force-1-c-1952.html]Nike Air Force 1[/url] luxurious dress shoe. The [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-2012-c-1951_2002.html]Air Jordan 2012[/url] Basketball [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-free-shoes-nike-free-30-c-1955_1978.html]Nike Free 3.0[/url] Shoes took design cues [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-2-c-1951_1964.html]Air Jordan 2[/url] from a dress shoe by integrating perforated holes on the tumble [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-11-c-1951_1962.html]Air Jordan 11[/url] leather upper. [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/adidas-shoes-adidas-adizero-rose-c-1996_2000.html]adidas adiZero Rose[/url] In order to keep [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/air-jordan-shoes-jordan-alpha-trunner-c-1951_1959.html]Jordan Alpha Trunner[/url] the weight to a [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-free-shoes-nike-free-run-2-c-1955_1975.html]Nike Free run 2[/url] minimum, a Flywire [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/adidas-shoes-c-1996.html]adidas Shoes[/url] stability shell is[url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-1-c-1951_1956.html] Air Jordan 1[/url] provided for [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/adidas-shoes-adidas-adizero-crazy-light-c-1996_1999.html]Adidas adizero Crazy Light[/url] added support. The [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-2011-c-1951_1968.html]Air Jordan 2011[/url] will use one of [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/air-jordan-shoes-jordan-fly-wade-c-1951_1971.html]Jordan Fly Wade[/url] technological features [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-free-shoes-c-1955.html]nike free [/url]like the removable insoles from [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-zoom-kobe-nike-zoom-kobe-7-c-1958_1989.html]kobe 7[/url] the previous model. The removable [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-3-c-1951_2001.html]Air Jordan 3[/url] insoles and inner-bootie [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-5-c-1951_1963.html]Air Jordan 5[/url] has been [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-zoom-hyperfuse-c-1995.html]Nike Zoom Hyperfuse[/url] added to provide a [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/air-jordan-shoes-air-jordan-13-c-1951_1965.html]Air Jordan 13[/url] more customized feel. [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-free-shoes-nike-free-run-3-c-1955_2003.html]Nike Free Run 3[/url] A Flight carbon-fiber spring plate was also added for [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-free-shoes-nike-free-run-c-1955_1979.html]Nike Free Run[/url] maximum responsiveness. [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/]Nike Air Max[/url] were for running and [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-max-90-c-1954_1988.html]Nike Air Max 90[/url] tranning. The [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-air-max-lebron-c-1957.html]Nike Air Max Lebron[/url] Air Max Shoes released before nearly 20 years [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-max-95-c-1954_1987.html]Nike Air Max 95[/url] firstly and have been a [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-griffey-max-1-c-1954_1976.html]Nike Air Griffey Max 1[/url] favorite amo [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-zoom-kobe-nike-zoom-kobe-6-c-1958_1974.html]Kobe 6[/url] ng many shoes. [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-max-247-c-1954_1986.html]Nike Air Max 24-7[/url] Though a little premature of the 20th anniversary, Nike launched its latest marvel, the Air Max 360, along with [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-griffey-max-2-c-1954_1984.html]Nike Air Griffey Max 2[/url] a history of Nike Air Max [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-air-max-nike-air-max-2011-c-1954_1985.html]Nike Air Max 2011[/url] package to celebrate the [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/adidas-shoes-adidas-climacool-ride-c-1996_1997.html]Adidas ClimaCool Ride[/url] technology and accomplishments of the Air Max shoes. Chooes your right [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-air-max-lebron-nike-air-max-lebron-8-c-1957_1960.html]Lebron 8[/url] nike air max shoes [url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-air-max-lebron-nike-air-max-lebron-9-c-1957_1990.html]Lebron 9[/url] at nikediscountshop.[url=http://www.nikediscountshop.com/nike-zoom-kobe-c-1958.html]Nike Zoom Kobe[/url] com now.

hermes bags on 20 April 2012 at 08:16

hermes outlet offer hermes bags, hermes wallets, etc. Large style of hermes for women. You can get hermes birkin,hermes kelly in our hermes online store with cheap prices. You will love own hermes. hermes bags 2012 made ​​of high quality leather on the hermes bags prices of leather goods, captured the hearts of a lot of love brand names, but do not want to do the flow of famous billboard. Among them, the two most famous handbag is KELLY BIRKIN a predetermined list of these two handbags looks scary.

Coach Outlet on 3 May 2012 at 08:18

We have many series of handbags provide for you on Coach Outlet Canada store.  Now let this Coach bags in Coach outlet take you enter the fashion world. The Coach outlet store online come in different shapes, sizes, materials, color and texture You can buy your loved handbags in Coach outlet store at a price greatly reduce as 30-60% away the regular cost within standard stores.

Christian Louboutin Outlet on 3 May 2012 at 08:19

Cheap coach handbags last Coach Factory Outlet Online longer than any other bag in market, because Coach Factory Outlet bags various sizes and never goes out of style due to its more flexible to change designs. Christian Louboutin Outlet Online loves seeing females put on her footwear as knows what a difference they can make. If you like a feeling of exotic customs you can choose Louboutin Outlet shoes full of exotic patterns here.

Tods Bag on 10 May 2012 at 02:43

For almost five years Gauguin lived in the Peruvian capital of Lima. The experiences he had while living in the city would largely inspire his painting art. At the age of seven Paul Gauguin travelled back to France to live with his grandfather in Orleans.Tods Bag

Comment on this post

Name *

Email *

Message *