Affordances of Technology Flashcards
Who are the main theorists and their foundational texts?
“The Theory of Affordances” by J.J. Gibson and “Technology Affordances” by W.W. Gaver are foundational texts in understanding the concept of affordances in the context of psychology and technology design.
Explain the affordance as action possibilities, as stated by Gibson.
Gibson introduced the concept of affordances in his ecological approach to perception. He described affordances as all action possibilities available to an individual in their environment, irrespective of their ability to recognize those possibilities.
Explain the concept of direct perception, as stated by Gibson.
Gibson’s theory emphasized direct perception, where individuals perceive affordances directly without cognitive processing. This perception-action link is crucial in understanding how individuals interact with their environment.
Explain the concept of affordances and environment, as stated by Gibson.
Affordances are properties of the environment relative to the actor. They are not traits of the object but a relationship between the object and the individual.
Explain the concept of application to technology, as imagined by Gaver.
Gaver extended Gibson’s concept to technology, exploring how users perceive and interact with technological tools and interfaces.
Explain the concept of perceived and hidden affordances, as imagined by Gaver.
Gaver distinguished between perceived affordances, which are immediately apparent to users, and hidden affordances, which require some exploration or instruction to discover.
Explain the concept of design implications, as imagined by Gaver.
Gaver’s work has significant implications for design, emphasizing that technology should be designed with clear affordances that guide user interaction.
Explain the subsequent implication of interaction with media technologies.
Understanding affordances provides insights into how people interact with media technologies, shaping the design and use of these tools.
Explain the subsequent implication of user experience and interface design.
Affordance theory is crucial in user experience (UX) and interface design, guiding how digital and media interfaces are structured to facilitate intuitive use.
Explain the subsequent implication of perception and cognition in media use.
Gibson’s and Gaver’s concepts highlight the relationship between perception, cognition, and action in media environments, influencing how media content is accessed and processed.
Explain the subsequent implication of digital communication strategies.
For digital communication, affordances inform how messages are crafted and disseminated, based on the capabilities and limitations of different media platforms.
Explain the subsequent implication of social media dynamics.
In social media, understanding affordances helps explain user behavior, platform engagement, and the spread of information.
What are the main conclusions formulated by Gibson and Gaver?
Gibson’s “The Theory of Affordances” and Gaver’s “Technology Affordances” provide a framework for understanding the relationship between individuals and their environment, particularly in the context of media and technology. Their concepts have been instrumental in shaping fields like human-computer interaction, communication design, and digital media studies.
