<s>
Interface	B-Application
apparency	I-Application
is	O
a	O
term	O
used	O
in	O
technology	O
to	O
describe	O
the	O
degree	O
to	O
which	O
a	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
enables	O
a	O
user	O
to	O
understand	O
hidden	O
contingencies	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
drop	O
down	O
menus	O
or	O
context	O
menus	O
which	O
only	O
appear	O
after	O
an	O
action	O
,	O
within	O
a	O
computer	O
or	O
computerised	O
system	O
;	O
or	O
,	O
how	O
easy	O
it	O
is	O
for	O
a	O
person	O
coming	O
upon	O
an	O
interface	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
website	O
,	O
a	O
computer	O
program	O
,	O
or	O
a	O
kiosk	O
,	O
to	O
understand	O
the	O
sequence	O
of	O
steps	O
required	O
to	O
perform	O
a	O
complex	O
action	O
using	O
that	O
interface	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Diane	O
Lindwarm	O
Alonso	O
,	O
a	O
doctor	O
of	O
philosophy	O
at	O
the	O
University	O
of	O
Maryland	O
,	O
and	O
Kent	O
Norman	O
,	O
associate	O
professor	O
of	O
psychology	O
at	O
the	O
University	O
of	O
Maryland	O
,	O
(	O
1998	O
)	O
defined	O
interface	B-Application
apparency	I-Application
as	O
visually	O
showing	O
hidden	O
relationships	O
in	O
an	O
interface	O
.	O
</s>
