ebook img

The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity PDF

289 Pages·2.8 MB·English
Save to my drive
Quick download
Download

Download The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity PDF Free - Full Version

by Alan Cooper| 289 pages| 2.8| English

About The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity

In this book about the darker side of technology’s impact on our lives, Alan Cooper begins by explaining that unlike other devices throughout history, computers have a “meta function”: an unwanted, unforeseen option that users may accidentally invoke with what they thought was a normal keystroke. Cooper details many of these meta functions to explain his central thesis: programmers need to seriously re-evaluate the many user-hostile concepts deeply embedded within the software development process. Rather than provide users with a straightforward set of options, programmers often pile on the bells and whistles and ignore or de-prioritise lingering bugs. For the average user, increased functionality is a great burden, adding to the recurrent chorus that plays: “computers are hard, mysterious, unwieldy things.” (An average user, Cooper asserts, who doesn’t think that way or who has memorised all the esoteric commands and now lords it over others, has simply been desensitised by too many years of badly designed software.) Cooper’s writing style is often overblown, with a pantheon of cutesy terminology (i.e. “dancing bearware”) and insider back-patting. (When presenting software to Bill Gates, he reports that Gates replied: “How did you do that?” to which he writes: “I love stumping Bill!”) More seriously, he is also unable to see beyond software development’s importance–a sin he accuses programmers of throughout the book. Even with that in mind, the central questions Cooper asks are too important to ignore: Are we making users happier? Are we improving the process by which they get work done? Are we making their work hours more effective? Cooper looks to programmers, business managers and what he calls “interaction designers” to question current assumptions and mindsets. Plainly, he asserts that the goal of computer usage should be “not to make anyone feel stupid.” Our distance from that goal reinforces the need to rethink entrenched priorities in software planning. — Jennifer Buckendorff, Amazon.com

Detailed Information

Author:Alan Cooper
ISBN:672326140
Pages:289
Language:English
File Size:2.8
Format:PDF
Price:FREE
Download Free PDF

Safe & Secure Download - No registration required

Why Choose PDFdrive for Your Free The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity Download?

  • 100% Free: No hidden fees or subscriptions required for one book every day.
  • No Registration: Immediate access is available without creating accounts for one book every day.
  • Safe and Secure: Clean downloads without malware or viruses
  • Multiple Formats: PDF, MOBI, Mpub,... optimized for all devices
  • Educational Resource: Supporting knowledge sharing and learning

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really free to download The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity PDF?

Yes, on https://PDFdrive.to you can download The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity by Alan Cooper completely free. We don't require any payment, subscription, or registration to access this PDF file. For 3 books every day.

How can I read The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity on my mobile device?

After downloading The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity PDF, you can open it with any PDF reader app on your phone or tablet. We recommend using Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Books, or Google Play Books for the best reading experience.

Is this the full version of The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity?

Yes, this is the complete PDF version of The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity by Alan Cooper. You will be able to read the entire content as in the printed version without missing any pages.

Is it legal to download The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity PDF for free?

https://PDFdrive.to provides links to free educational resources available online. We do not store any files on our servers. Please be aware of copyright laws in your country before downloading.

The materials shared are intended for research, educational, and personal use in accordance with fair use principles.