Conclusion

Gestalt theory in computer systems design:

Gestalt school claimed that the problem solving is both productive and reproductive. Reproductive problem solving is based on past experiences but the productive problem solving involves insight and restructuring of the problem. Designing computer systems involves both types of problem solving. Sometimes the designer uses his/her past experiences or previous product to work on it and to make it work the way it is wanted to. On the other hand, there are times that the designer has to start doing everything from the scratch by communicating to the client and structuring what the client wants.

It can also be seen in the architectural design that the designer has to decompose the system into components that can either be brought in from existing software products or be developed from scratch independently. This is actually the Gestalt mentality of problem solving. Breaking the problem into little pieces and once every piece is understood it is put back together. On the other hand as it is suggested in the Gestalt theory, the designer uses his/her past experiences to develop particular software or any computer system.

The use of Gestalt theory to design computer systems is probably that it helps to draw an overall structure of the system (problem) to work on. The direct application of Gestalt theory to computer systems designing would be such as; breaking up complexes into their component elements. Isolate the elements, discover their laws, then reassemble, and the problem is solved.

Gestalt theory will actually guide the designer to design computer systems. By grouping the requirements of the customer and tackling with each of them individually will make the system more accurate to integrate. Also if any problem occurs these components can be reviewed rather than the whole system. In addition to this another use of Gestalt theory is that if the designer need to work on a product that is developed before. With the use of grouping technique designer can study the pieces of it and see how these pieces (components) can be used or developed more to be used in the new system.

Therefore as a conclusion it can be said that the Gestalt theory is not directly usable to the design of usable computer systems. However, Gestalt theory helps the designer to determine how to tackle the problem.

As a result Gestalt would only be helping to the designer on how to structure his/her design process to develop usable computer systems.