Such attributes as learnability, usability, and functionality, are indicators of the performance of the operators. Cost, security, and control, are ecological attributes of the entire system. Transparency aims at performance in terms of learnability and functionality. Flexibility involves independence which is both dynamic and stable. Organization entails modeling by way of standardization and rationalization.
Security requires restrictions to achieve privacy and specification of use.
These are the features that end-users want and need, and ways must be found to incorporate them into systems architecture. Formally, otherware can be defined as the personal and organizational context and consequences of the application of telematics and informatics technologies. No telematics or informatics system will operate either effectively or indefinitely without human participation and co-operation. All such systems must be designed, constructed, implemented, operated, maintained, up-dated, and retired by people. Design itself can be conceptualized as either a form of action, or a system of relationships.