If Don Norman is talking about it, then it must be relevant

1. If Don Norman is talking about it, then it must be relevant • “The research-practice gap: The Need for Translational Developers” • http://jnd.org/dn.mss/the_research-practice_gap_1.html • Interactions, July/August 2010 • http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?doid=1806491.1806494

2. A few “problem statement” quotes from Don • There is an immense gap between research and practice • The gap is fundamental. The knowledge and skill sets required of each group differ • In science, there are clear links among hypotheses, conclusions, and evidence • In the practices of most professions, the links are tenuous at best…there is much reliance upon “best practice”

3. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasteur%27s_Quadrant for a different visualization Inventors such as Thomas Edison fit the quadrant of searching for relevant knowledge to solve an applied problem, but without any attempt to expand our general understanding of phenomena Aimed at some practical problem Pasteur: fundamental research aimed at solving important applied problems Applicability A third quadrant is filled with tinkerers who produce inventions that neither add to fundamental understanding nor have any use Researchers most often play in the fun quadrant, finding lovely problems to work on without regard for whether anyone cares outside of their fellow research in-group Pure science. No application in mind Search for new understanding Apply existing knowledge Knowledge

4. Don’s conclusion • Third discipline: • Translate between the abstractions of research and the practicalities of practice • Translating research findings into the language of practical development and business • Translating the needs of business into issues that researchers can address • A new kind of practitioner: the translational developer