The Ubiquity Paradox: Further Thinking on the Concept of User Centeredness

Robert R. Johnson Michigan Technological University

Abstract

Where do words go to live when they become meaningless? —Anonymous Men of the world who value the Way all turn to books. But books are nothing more than words. Words have value; what is of value in words is meaning. —Zhuangzi (as quoted in Mao) For questioning is the piety of thought. —Heidegger in The Question ConcerningTechnology and Other Essays This essay argues that user centeredness has become ubiquitous and is in danger of being rendered meaningless. To address this problem, a meditative essay theorizes user centeredness by examining a base term—use—as defined through the ancient concepts of techne and the four causes of making. It concludes that user-centered design should employ the causes in order to avoid inversions during the development of all things technological.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2010-09-27
DOI
10.1080/10572252.2010.502510
Open Access
Closed

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (8)

  1. Computers and Composition
  2. Computers and Composition
  3. Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  5. Computers and Composition
Show all 8 →
  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (6)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Rhetoric Review
  3. Computers and Composition
  4. Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 6 →
  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
Also cites 8 works outside this index ↓
  1. Minimalism beyond the Nurnberg funnel
  2. Metaphors we live by
  3. Thinking through technology: The path between engineering and philosophy
  4. Usability engineering
  5. Emotional design: Why we love (or hate) everyday things
  6. The gods and technology: A reading of Heidegger
  7. Tracing genres through organizations: A sociocultural approach to information design
  8. Technics and time, 1: The fault of Epimetheus
CrossRef global citation count: 13 View in citation network →