Norman
Norman, Donald
Attention
Attention is most often referred to as the cognitive capacity to focus on certain aspects of our perception , while (at least temporarily) disregarding information about other parts of our perceptual environment. In practice, the 'disregarded' items are probably still being cognitively-processed, even though we may not be consciously aware of it. A good example of this is the 'cocktail party effect': we may choose to focus on conversation with one other person in a busy party, but if someone in a 'disregarded' conversation nearby mentions our name, we will frequently notice it and look round. This shows that even 'unattended' material is still being processed to some extent. In evolutionary terms, it would be rather useful for our perceptual system to let us know that a sabre-toothed tiger was bounding towards us, intent on making us its next meal, while we were concentrating on lighting the fire to roast a bit of mammoth.
CMC
Computer-Mediated Communication is the process by which people create, exchange, and perceive information using networks or computers, for example via internet chat rooms, e-mail, bulletin boards, newsgroups and so on. CMC can be used to refer to any form of communication between people which is mediated in some significant way by computer. Although a recent innovation, it is already producing quite distinct relational patterns compared to other forms of human interaction.\nA related field is that of HCI (human-computer interaction), or the research field which studies how people interact with computers. This clearly has significant implications for both the computer hardware and software industries, looking for commercial advantage to improving the extent to which computers can facilitate successful interactions with people.
Norman's influence is both in the development of cognitive science, and more recently in the design of technology. According to Norman:
When Lindsay left in 1970 to travel the world the group name was changed to the Cognitive Science Lab, which led later to the Department of Cognitive Science (of which Norman was a founder and the first Chair).
Source: www.jnd.org Written by: Course Team
Norman received a BS degree from MIT (1957) and a MS (1959) degree from the University of Pennsylvania, both in Electrical Engineering. His doctorate, from the University of Pennsylvania, is in Mathematical Psychology (1962).
The technological problems today are sociological and organizational as much as technical. In this n ew age of portable, powerful, fully-communicating tools, it is ever more important to develop a humane technology, one that takes into account the needs and capabilities of people.
Norman was also one of the founders of the Cognitive Science Society, chair of the society and editor of its journal, Cognitive Science, activities that did much to shape the development of Cognitive Science as a discipline.
Following his PhD, Norman was first a Research Fellow then a lecturer at the Centre for Cognitive St udies and Department of Psychology at Harvard University between 1962 and 1966. During this time, the Centre for Cognitive Studies was headed by George Miller, one of the founders of cognitive psychology.
In 1993 he became Professor Emeritus in the Department of Cognitive Science at the University of California, San Diego, and began a varied career incorporating stints as Vice President and head of the Apple Research Laboratories at Apple Computer (1993-1997), Head of the Appliance Design Centre at Hewlett-Packard (1997-1998) and most recently, as president of UNEXT Learning systems (a for-profit distance education provider).
The technical problems are relatively easy. It is the people-part that is hard: the social, psychological, cultural, and political problems are the ones that are the most difficult -- and the most essential -- to address.
In 1966 Norman joined the University of California, San Diego where he remained for 27 years. In 196 8 he began a cognitive psychology research group (called LNR) with Peter Lindsay and Dave Rumelhart.
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