The Journey is not the Goal. The Goal is the Goal.

(I originally planned to put the text of this post under Introductions, but it seemed to take on a life of its own, so I gave it a separate page).

I am obsessed with the idea of simplifying the man/machine interface, to the point of making complex machines into 'appliances'. Did anyone ever teach you how to use a microwave? A CD player? Those complex machines have such a simple interface that interacting with them requires almost no thought whatsoever. At that point the machine itself disappears and what remains is the action itself. You are not using the CD player, you are listening to music. You are not manipulating the settings on the microwave, you are cooking food.

Any interface design that requires the user to focus on the interface instead of the desired result is poorly engineered. I work with engineers every day, and they all have this idea that more is better. "What if you want to change the settings?" This is the type of person that focuses on the interface and implementation so much they lose sight of the purpose of the machine.

My goal is not to have infinite control of the microwave. I'm hungry and it's time to eat.