Exposure to different kinds of interfaces, problems
Can't "unlearn" something
User model, not system model
Guidelines
There are well-defined methods and techniques
Not just opinions, luck, domain-experience
Very expensive to not do usability engineering
Interfaces will be re-designed: before or after release
Studies show that usability engineering saves money
$39,000 $613,000 $8,200,000
Up to 5000 times the cost
Disasters
Aegis
Therac-25
Recognized by industry, government, etc.
Plenty of jobs.
Money for research
Significant time and code devoted to HCI now
Brad A. Myers and Mary Beth Rosson. "Survey on User
Interface Programming," Proceedings SIGCHI'92: Human Factors in Computing
Systems. Monterrey, CA, May 3-7, 1992. 195-202.