[slowmovintarget]

The distinction is that in the original meaning, it meant "to make the action possible." In the new meaning, it means "to suggest the action is possible visually." The original meaning had to do with actual usability, as opposed to just visual design.

[OJFord]

Huh, ok. If Norman said that himself then fair enough, but it surprises me. I learnt it from Bob Spence, I recall he used the example of door handles and push plates: you can pull or push the handle, but it visually invites pulling, especially in contradistinction to the plate, which clearly says 'push me' - that's essentially suggesting the action by what's not possible visually.

I thought (not necessarily, but probably visual) design (to tell you how to use the thing) was the whole point. The original meaning as you say seems pretty redundant, that's just the same as the thing's function?

[slowmovintarget]

He wrote that in the book: "Affordances determine what actions are possible. Signifiers communicate where the action should take place."