The Martian vs. The Design Of Everyday Things
The Martian
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?
The Design Of Everyday Things
Even the smartest among us can feel inept as we fail to figure out which light switch or oven burner to turn on, or whether to push, pull, or slide a door. The fault, argues this ingenious -- even liberating -- book, lies not in ourselves, but in product design that ignores the needs of users and the principles of cognitive psychology. The problems range from ambiguous and hidden controls to arbitrary relationships between controls and functions, coupled with a lack of feedback or other assistance and unreasonable demands on memorization. The Design of Everyday Things shows that good, usable design is possible. The rules are simple: make things visible, exploit natural relationships that couple function and control, and make intelligent use of constraints. The goal: guide the user effortlessly to the right action on the right control at the right time. The Design of Everyday Things is a powerful primer on how -- and why -- some products satisfy customers while others only f...
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| Thrilling survival story | 1 | |
| Strong character development | 1 | |
| Appeals to both sci-fi fans and general readers | 1 |
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| Heavy on technical jargon | 1 | |
| Slow start | 1 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
'The Martian' is known for its engaging and humorous narrative, which appeals to both sci-fi fans and general readers. In contrast, 'The Design of Everyday Things' focuses on product design and usability, which may not be as engaging for those looking for a thrilling story. Therefore, if you're seeking entertainment and excitement, 'The Martian' is likely the more engaging choice.
'The Martian' features strong character development, particularly through the protagonist Mark Watney's journey of survival and ingenuity. On the other hand, 'The Design of Everyday Things' does not focus on character development, as it is more of a theoretical exploration of design principles. Thus, if character development is important to you, 'The Martian' is the better option.
'The Martian' is a thrilling survival story filled with tension and challenges faced by the protagonist, making it a more exciting read. In contrast, 'The Design of Everyday Things' is an informative book that discusses design principles and usability, which may not provide the same level of thrill. Therefore, for a thrilling experience, 'The Martian' is the clear winner.
'The Martian' is praised for its accurate scientific details, which can be particularly appealing to readers interested in science and technology. Conversely, 'The Design of Everyday Things' offers valuable insights into product design and cognitive psychology, which may appeal to those interested in usability and design. The appeal depends on the reader's interests; if you prefer science fiction with a basis in real science, 'The Martian' is more appealing.
'The Martian' is designed to be accessible to both sci-fi fans and general readers, making it a popular choice for a wide audience. In contrast, 'The Design of Everyday Things' may be more technical and focused on design principles, which could be less accessible to casual readers. Therefore, for general accessibility, 'The Martian' is the better option.
'The Martian' is a sci-fi novel by Andy Weir that tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney, who becomes stranded on Mars after a dust storm forces his crew to evacuate. Believed to be dead, Watney must rely on his ingenuity and engineering skills to survive while figuring out a way to signal Earth for a rescue.
Pros of 'The Martian' include its engaging and humorous narrative, accurate scientific details, thrilling survival story, strong character development, and its appeal to both sci-fi fans and general readers. Cons include its heavy use of technical jargon and a slow start.
'The Design Of Everyday Things' is a book that explores the principles of good product design. It argues that many common usability issues stem from poor design that ignores the needs of users and cognitive psychology principles. The book emphasizes making controls and functions visible, using natural relationships, and applying intelligent constraints to guide users effortlessly.
The author of 'The Design Of Everyday Things' is Don Norman, a renowned cognitive scientist and usability engineer known for his contributions to the field of design.
'The Design Of Everyday Things' discusses several key principles of good design, including making things visible, exploiting natural relationships between controls and their functions, and using constraints intelligently to guide users towards the right actions.
'The Design Of Everyday Things' is considered a powerful primer on design because it provides clear, actionable guidelines for creating user-friendly products. It explains why certain designs frustrate users and offers practical solutions to make products more intuitive and satisfying to use.
