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Landauer, T. (1995). _The trouble with computers_. Cambridge, MA: MIT
Press.
_The trouble with computers_ is one of the classics of HCI literature.
It makes a compelling economic argument for user centered design,
development and deployment. This has been important for it is
frequently difficult to make the arugment for a user based approach
when developing technology because it appears expensive.
Landauer is important in the context of the Norman readings done for
597 in a few different ways:
- Norman whines alot and expects people to do better but doesn't
really say much in a practical way of what to do or how to
justifying the doing.
- Norman talks about computers as a compositional medium for working
with representations. This corresponds with Landauer's view of phase
two computing applications: augmenting machines.
- Both make the same conclusion: the need for a human centered
approach.
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