LIVING WITH COMPLEXITY

Why we don t really want simplicity and how we can learn to live with complexity If only today s technology were simpler It s the universal lament but it s wrong In this provocative and informative book Don Norman writes that the complexity of our technology must mirror the complexity and richness of our lives It s not complexity that s the problem it s bad design Bad design complicates things unnecessarily and confuses us Good design can tame complexity Norman gives us a crash course in the virtues of complexity Designers have to produce things that tame complexity But we too have to do our part we have to take the time to learn the structure and practice the skills This is how we mastered reading and writing driving a car and playing sports and this is how we can master our complex tools Complexity is good Simplicity is misleading The good life is complex rich and rewarding but only if it is understandable sensible and meaningful