Definition: Thackara's laws

The following laws are by John Thackara, director of Doors of Perception, a design futures network and author of "In the Bubble: Designing for a Complex World." His contention is that products have to have perceived value in the world to be successful, and the more they employ meaningless functions, the less enthusiasm people have for new ones.

Law #1: "If you put smart technology into a pointless product, the result will be a stupid product."

Law #2: "Our capacity to be impressed by new technology diminishes in relation to the amount of pointless functionality added to everyday products." Known as "the law of diminishing amazement (LODA)."