Fun is the new user experience direction
This article clarifies a thought that has been rattling in my brain for years. Humans like to play. Play is instrumental in learning. Therefore if something is fun, it becomes easier for humans to learn.
Making something fun is a huge challenge which is why I admire the video game industry. I think the web community would do well to utilize more ‘gaming’ elements in their designs.
The iPhone is not easy to use: A new direction in user experience design
Fun isn’t just fun — it can also be an important learning experience. Lots of animals, including us, use play to learn essential skills as kids. Also interesting: toys, the physical expression of fun, are essentially learning devices. In many ways, toys (including/especially video games) do a better job of teaching skills than books and teachers.