Exploring Concepts of Affordance LECTURE NOTES

Exploring Concepts of Affordance A COMPARISON OF GAVER AND HARTON, AND TYPES OF AFFORDANCE Introduction to Affordances Affordances describe the relationship between objects and their potential for action. Key idea: Affordances bridge perception and interaction. Widely discussed in...

Exploring Concepts of Affordance A COMPARISON OF GAVER AND HARTON, AND TYPES OF AFFORDANCE Introduction to Affordances Affordances describe the relationship between objects and their potential for action. Key idea: Affordances bridge perception and interaction. Widely discussed in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and psychology. Bill Gaver’s Concept of Affordance  Introduced affordances to interface design.  Focus: Understanding affordances as perceptible or hidden.  Key Contribution:  Perceptible Affordances: Clear and direct cues.  Hidden Affordances: Functionalities not immediately visible.  Example: A transparent door with a handle affords pulling. D. Rex Harton’s Concept of Affordance  Harton’s Perspective on Affordance  Extended the concept to emphasize the interaction between individuals and environments.  Key Insight: Affordances vary based on individual abilities and situational factors.  Example: A pathway affords walking only if it is accessible and navigable for the user. Types of Affordances  Physical Affordances  Sensory Affordances  Functional Affordances  A button affords pressing.  A handle affords gripping. Sensory Affordances  Relate to the perceptual cues provided by an object.  Key Characteristics:  Engage users through sight, sound, touch, or other senses.  Facilitate interaction by guiding perception.  Examples:  A bright icon on a screen affords attention.  A textured surface affords touch. Functional Affordances  Relate to the purpose or function an object or system is designed to serve.  Key Characteristics:  Focus on how objects enable specific tasks or actions.  Often tied to the usability of tools or systems.  Examples:  A calculator affords mathematical operations.  A search bar affords finding information. Conclusion  Summarizing Affordances  Gaver’s Focus: Perceptible and hidden affordances in design.  Harton’s Insight: Affordances are shaped by context and individual abilities.  Types of Affordances: Physical, sensory, and functional affordances guide action and interaction.  Recognizing affordances leads to effective and intuitive design. References  Gaver, W.W. (1991). Technology affordances.  Harton, D.R. (2000). Affordance concepts in interaction and design.