The etymology of user experience
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-02-2017-0006 |
| Published date | 08 May 2017 |
| Pages | 82-87 |
| Date | 08 May 2017 |
| Author | Robert Fox |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Records management & preservation,Information repositories |
DIGITAL LIBRARIES: THE SYSTEMS
ANALYSIS PERSPECTIVE
The etymology of user experience
Robert Fox
Hesburgh Library, University of Notre Dame,
Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
Abstract
Purpose –The psychology of user experienceis sometimes overlooked in favor of assumptions based on
didactic principles thatdo not apply to the use of the Web. This column aims to explore the implications of
some psychological principles that bear on user interface (UI) design and the implications those principles
may have for the digital library.
Design/methodology/approach –This is a regular column –a literature review was completed and
incorporatedinto the text.
Findings –Common perceptual biases, particularly related to our perception of the material world,
heavily influence our interaction with Web UIs. Aligning Web UI design with our hardwired expectations
regarding physical space and material objects has the possibility of increasing the effectiveness of those
interfaces.
Originality/value –The psychology of user design is an important area of concern, and it should be
considered by libraries engaged in the provisioning of online content and services. This has not been
extensivelyexplored in the literature, and these principles are rarely adhered to in the librarycommunity. The
primary example given that seems to have successfully taken this seriously in the commercial sector is
Google’spromotion of a recommendation called Material Design.
Keywords Usabilitys, Design, User interface, Desktop metaphor, Material design,
Psychology of design
Paper type Conceptual paper
Introduction
Humans are very gifted at naming things. Naming is a way of signifying the people we
encounter, the places we visit and the things that we experience on a daily basis, and
developing highly specializedsystems for sharing technical knowledge. Systems of naming
can be quite elaborate, for example, in the biological sciences, in which, there is a
complicated hierarchy of classifications used to name thousands of living species. In fact,
the sciences use several organizations to standardize their nomenclature into international
codes and indices that are universally adhered to within the various disciplines. From the
everyday to the highly specialized professions, the way we name things allows us to
communicate and understandone another, both formally and informally.
Names are a linguistic manner of identification, and they orient our minds to specific
concepts or individuals in the case of proper names. The proper nomenclature can help us
quickly disambiguate one idea from another (MacDonald, 1993). Context also plays a large
role in helping us determine the meaningof words. For example, consider these two sets of
phrases:
DLP
33,2
82
Received 1 Feb ruar y 2017
Accepted 2 Feb ruar y 2017
DigitalLibrary Perspectives
Vol.33 No. 2, 2017
pp. 82-87
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5816
DOI 10.1108/DLP-02-2017-0006
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