Memory and attention: an introduction to human information processing

by Donald A. Norman

Book by Norman

Genres: Design, Psychology

201 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1969

About the author

Donald Arthur Norman is an American researcher, professor, and author. Norman is the director of The Design Lab at University of California, San Diego. He is best known for his books on design, especially The Design of Everyday Things. He is widely regarded for his expertise in the fields of design, usability engineering, and cognitive science, and has shaped the development of the field of cognitive systems engineering. He is a co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group, along with Jakob Nielsen. He is also an IDEO fellow and a member of the Board of Trustees of IIT Institute of Design in Chicago. He also holds the title of Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Science at the University of California, San Diego. Norman is an active Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), where he spends two months a year teaching.
Much of Norman's work involves the advocacy of user-centered design. His books all have the underlying purpose of furthering the field of design, from doors to computers. Norman has taken a controversial stance in saying that the design research community has had little impact in the innovation of products, and that while academics can help in refining existing products, it is technologists that accomplish the breakthroughs. To this end, Norman named his website with the initialism JND (just-noticeable difference) to signify his endeavors to make a difference.

See also Don Norman

Reviews

[Eugene Miya · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I had Donald A. Norman's book as a text book in a class on learning and memory.

And I found Don's topic OK if one was a cognitive scientist at the time. I was not. I had a slightly earlier if controversial different view.

Don would later go on to write an even more controversial article on computer operating systems which caused me more direct grief. Then he wrote his now popular book The Psychology of Everyday Things. This did not sell well, titled as such but I, and another respected friend liked it.

Then Don's publisher retitled the book to The Design of Everyday Things, and he became very popular. But this time, we chanced to be friends to this day. We don't always agree on topics, but I have managed to buy a number of his more popular books in various forms (some very advanced).

I guess I still retain an amount of behaviorism where I don't like intermediate variables which cognitive models found very popular (like the idea of sensory memories like the icon and the echo (these are specific ideas).

But I am glad for Don's success as author.

[Roger Meloche · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look into the human mind. It is a great tool for anybody trying to communicate ideas. I found it especially useful in writing rules for games.

[Alex Railean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it provides some interesting experimental data. I'd love to read something similar that covers more recent papers from the field.