Reading 2-Michael Jennings

In Brenda Laurel’s writing, Computers as Theatre, she explores how use of computers in relation to humans is comparable to theatrical design. She cites Don Norman’s psychological concept of task oriented operation. Task oriented design is important because it engages the user in a way that allows the user to come into a sort of conversation with the computer similarly to how a theatre production would want to engage in a conversation with their audience. Norman’s idea is to allow the user to accomplish whatever it is they are trying to do through this conversation. The machine’s design must be geared toward the user, therefore, in order for this conversation to take place and for the experience to be enjoyable. The user tells the computer what to do and it does it. Similarly, a theatre production must be completely geared toward the audience in order for the audience to have an enjoyable experience. In this instance the designer is responsible for making the conversation possible and understandable.

In the picture above, the stage and set are set up so they face the audience. Although this point is blatantly obvious, it is important in the context of interface design. The whole point of theatre is to take the audience into “another world” and this is accomplished through the concept of the “missing fourth wall.” This missing fourth wall allows the audience to see what is happening in this other world much like an interface is the “fourth wall” that allows a user to see what is happening inside the computer in a sense. The designer of the interface/scene must take the user/audience’s tendencies into account in order for seamless interaction.

Laurel goes on to talk about the idea of an interface itself. An interface must be designed in such a way that it is easy for the user to interact with. Obviously then, the designer of the interface is responsible for taking the users thoughts and expected actions into account when they interact with a computer. In terms of theatre then, the scene designer’s “interface” is the stage. The actors on stage must be extremely clearly characterized in order for the audience to understand the meaning of what is happening on stage. Again it is the designer’s responsibility to clearly define the actors on stage in order for the audience to receive the message that is intended.