Desire, data, and doubt — the sacred fundamentals of human interaction

Artwork by Steven Saunders, a recreation of the original paperback cover by Vin Di Fate

A few weeks ago, I finished reading God-Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert. It’s a heart-wrenching and disturbing masterpiece. The protagonist of the book says the following about human behavior:

“Desire brings the participants together.Data sets the limits of their dialogue.Doubt frames the questions.”

According to Herbert, any agreement or interaction between individuals or groups is an “agreement tripod” — like a table with three legs — based on the three fundamentals D-s: data, desire, and doubt. This concept perfectly fits how users behave when interacting with digital and non-digital objects.

Let’s break it down with an example:

Say I want some tea — that’s desire. It’s the motivation that sparks action.I need to decide what type of tea to prepare. I have 15 different kinds in the cupboard, so now I have to analyze the options. Is it time for something spicy, strong, or fruity? That’s data analysis — sorting through the available information to make a choice.The instructions on the packaging state: “Add two pinches to the… 

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