In his text The Design of Everyday Things , Donald A. Norman explains how Evaluation is one of two fundamental aspects that make up human action. It begins with the act of perception, involves making sense of what is perceived and results in a personal comparison being made– what was perceived vs. what was expected. Per Norman, appreciating Evaluation matters because of the role it plays in the Action Cycle at large and because it can lead to thoughtful product design.
Of particular interest to us is the aspect of Evaluation that is perception. We recognize that perception happens first, interpretation and comparison follow. We recognize that our physiology can limit perception.
There are times and instances where an object or a happening cannot be perceived. Our general and/or special senses, their respective neural pathways and/or the sensory processing centers within the brain are not capable of ‘capture’. Or, a person’s overall condition—not to mention the condition of specific body parts—is not healthy enough to support being fully perceptive; fully functional.
Just because we cannot perceive an object nor a happening doesn’t mean that the object did not exist or that the happening did not take place!
Every manufacturer worth their salt strives for thoughtful product design. Here we strive to appreciate how our human physiology may affect Evaluation to support not only good product design but also product differentiation. It matters. It matters to us.