Hi Soren -- I have an MA in English Literature. I see a lot of parallels myself. For example, the Communication Triangle described by Kinneavy in a Theory of Discourse is concept that (to me) really applies to usability.
I really think the issue is that most usability folks are NOT really tuned into the communications field. And, I think an argument could be made that the communications field has started to take some steps. For example, the Society for Technical Communication has a SIG on Usability. I see a lot of parallels: - Personas - Storytelling - Patterns - Metaphors Am I talking about thinking about communication theory, studying a novel, working on a web design, or doing a usability project? The answer is, of course: "It depends." (This is really saying....CONTEXT). For me, I have always thought it would be interesting to use some ways to analyze a work of fiction, but apply it to the design and usability field: - Post-colonialism (think social media here) - Bibliographic codes (building components over time--ex: shopping cart) - Historical context (ex: social media, iPhone, Google) - Post-modernism (ex: gaming theory, emotional design, making meaning) - Themes and motifs (ex: design patterns) - Freudian (ex: Gestalt principles, anyone) I do think there are a lot of connections to be explored. I do not think people are making the connection because there are few people out there with the background in both areas. Finally, I would also say that usability and web design can also be considered part of the creative process. Buffalo State University has a wonderful program teaching Creative Problem Solving (CPS) method. I see a lot of parallels in the early design process with this method, too. Stake a claim. Make a name for yourself. Make that connection. Thanks, Brian -----Original Message----- From: new-boun...@ixda.org [mailto:new-boun...@ixda.org] On Behalf Of Soren Weimann Sent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 9:39 PM To: disc...@ixda.org Subject: [IxDA Discuss] Pragmatic language theory and usability theory...same same or what? Being a product of the school of pragmatic language theory it have always puzzled me that (some) usability folk are very eager to distinguish their field from language and semiotic theory. Honstly I don't see a big difference. By removing themselves from language theory, they are cuting themselves of from several hundreds of years of research on which they could be building their branch of communicative theory. - it's all about communicating - it's all about receivers - it's all about context What am I missing? ________________________________________________________________ Reply to this thread at ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44465 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
