直接知覺論在產品設計應用之審視

Ecological Approach to Product Design: A Literature Review on Affordance in Design

由James J. Gibson所提出之直接知覺論，特別是Affordance概念，近年來在電腦人機介面領域中逐漸受到重視，成為資訊時代中探索人機互動的一個重要議題，不同的研究方向遂由此展開。但Affordance概念在設計領域的發展，由於涉及設計開發之理論與方法論的建構不夠完備，以致於設計應用時難與既有的設計思維或是符號操作手法區隔。本文旨在釐清直接知覺論中Affordance概念的特性，並針對目前Affordance於設計相關之研究與成果進行整理與比較，進而導出未來Affordance於產品設計研究或應用可行之方向。本研究主要包括：第一、介紹本研究的背景與動機；第二、界定直接知覺論的研究範圍，並闡述Affordance概念的起源；第三、探討Affordance概念與設計中的人機互動模式的關聯；第四、澄清Affordance概念在產品設計領域之角色與意義；最後，對於Affordance概念於設計研究或應用提出個人之看法與建議。

Gibson's affordance concept has drawn much attention in the field of human-computer interface and product design in recent years, and has become an important issue in design research. However, the development of affordance concept in design practice is far from being mature, and the differentiation between affordance and symbolic meaning of designed artifacts remains unclear. Such confusion not only hinders the development of ecological approach in design research, but also limits the potential application of affordance concept as well. The aim of this study is to clarify the concept itself and its implication in design, and hopefully to point out directions that will lead to a greater utilization of the reciprocal nature between human and machine. In this study, a literature survey was conducted to briefly review the origin of affordance concept in psychology, and the development of affordance concept in design research. Some popular myths of affordance in product design were also clarified. Finally, directions for the application of affordance concept in product design were suggested.