Monday, October 13th, 2008, 1214 days ago

From ‘Computer-centered design’ to ‘User-centered design’

A significant evolutionary shift has occurred in human-computer interaction design. Prior to this shift, computer software designers tended toward a computer-centered design approach that at best assumed and at worst ignored the needs and preferences of end users.

This approach prioritized the attributes of the technology itself and often resulted in design solutings that were in search of problems. Its limitaions gave rise to a human-centered design in which users articulated their needs and developers observed or listened to users and then addressed various needs in their designs.

Ulike the technology push of computer-centered design, human-centered design emphasizes human needs and objectives and the technology that serves these purposes.

[From 'activity-centered design']