7. People See Cues that Tell Them What to Do With an Object

How Objects Communicate

• Objects communicate how you can and how you should interact with them.
• Objects communicate through cues based on its shape and size.
• The cues are called affordances and ultimately create action possibilities
• Objects should be easily perceived, figured out, and interpreted what it is and what should be done with it.
• If the object does not do what it looks like it should, that is an incorrect affordance.

Perceived Affordances on Computer Screens

• Buttons are a great example of perceived affordances on a computer screen.
• Different colors are displayed on the outer edges of a button.
• Lighter colors on the outer edges show a button is able to be pushed.
• Darker colors on the edges indicate the button has been pushed.
• Giving an affordance will cause one to more likely do the action.