Different people have a diversity of needs and expectations when approaching an information retrieval system, and providing people with the ease and efficiency to access information is important when designing systems. By examining the man-machine interface from the cognitive viewpoint, it is possible to investigate how a person interacts with an information retrieval system. People with different cognitive styles prefer to interact with systems in different ways, and different styles prefer the information to be presented in different forms and formats. Systems should be designed to accommodate the diversity of cognitive styles and the different requirements of these users. Using tools like the Embedded Figures Test and/or the Myers-Briggs Indicator, an individual's cognitive style can be grouped, and the characteristics can be used to provide a more successful match between learning style and learning environment. By conceptually and descriptively evaluating cognitive styles, strategies and suggestions can be provided for more effective system design. Reasons for the inadequacies of the present systems are examined, and suggestions for the improvement of those systems are made. Some of the many possible reasons why users have difficulty inputting information into systems are also addressed. Finally, a model is provided to suggest how an information retrieval system could be constructed to accommodate the diversity of styles of users. (25 references) (Author)