On 11/25/13 5:03 PM, Ruben Verborgh wrote:
Hi Kingsley

Note, "Affordance" doesn't show up in any of the standard dictionaries I have 
access to. That said, it does have a Wiktionary entry [1], but that particular definition 
doesn't actually make a case for it being immutable or devoid of an alternative :-)
Norman's "The Design of Everyday Things" describes the word nicely.

In case it is of any help, my understanding of the word "affordance" is based 
on the verb:
- a URL enables addressing a resource => the URL is an enabler;
- the link affords going to the resource => the link is an affordance.

Best,

Ruben




Which can also read as follows, without any loss of meaning:

- a URL enables resource naming => a URL is an identifier since it enables 
resource denotation (naming);
- the link facilitates resource retrieval => the link is a *facilitator* .

I still believe that one can talk about REST concepts accurately and fluently without the 
word "Affordance" .

[1] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facilitator .


--

Regards,

Kingsley Idehen 
Founder & CEO
OpenLink Software
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