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.
