Might Have Kept That VCR If It Stopped Blinking 12:00
from the product-design-for-the-masses dept
We've all seen various gadgets with the worst interfaces imaginable -- and wondered who in the world designed them. While many readers of this site are likely to be technology-oriented, and more willing to put up with bad user interface design, that's not so true for many other people. A new study has found that the inability to figure out how a device works in about 20 minutes leads to approximately half of all returns blamed on the product "malfunctioning." In other words, in the minds of many consumers, the fact that they can't figure out the gadget (and the 600 page, poorly written, manual doesn't help matters) means that the gadget is malfunctioning. Maybe instead of spending so much time looking for ways to allow things like our mobile phones to control our toaster ovens, some of these companies should put a little effort into a better user experience. There have been some stories about more emphasis on user interface, but it would appear there's still a long way to go.
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I actually
I actually enjoy the challenge...but thats me and I'm a geek...
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Alarm Clock
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As for the point at hand, all the fun is in learning how to use your new gadget(s). That's how you know when you need to buy something new: once you've learned it, all the fun is gone and it's time for a new one to learn. Digital cameras are and endless source of learning "wtf does this button do." Home theater systems too. So many settings.
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Re:7 Day Alarm Clock
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http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/lights/788e/
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Kip translates to chicken is Dutch.
I don't see a connection though :)
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URL is attached.
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well, I have an alarm clock that automatically sets its time off the home electrical wires (I dont know the name for this technology, but it works great). It has seperate alarm modes for weekday and weekend and a huge snooze button. IMHO, the best alarm clock I've owned.
this time the URL is correct
(and yes, next time I will proof-read my posts)
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http://www.emersonelectronics.ca/index/screen/products_3/model_ID/421.html
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its a combination of lack of common sense, stupidity, and poor attention span. to blame this problem entirely on poor UI design is shortsighted and ignorant of other contributing factors.
face it - we are accustomed to wanting everything right now, from email to cellphones. that, combined with the fact that for some reason electronics companies are obsessed with compressing 14 different devices into something that can fit into your pocket, is a recipe for... well, study findings like this
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In a very real sense, if a device cannot be used by the average user, it *is* malfunctioning--it's just that it's a design error rather than a failure to properly implement a technical specification.
You can't always just blame the user when your technology is too difficult to actually use when it's needed. The writings of Don Norman enlightening on this subject. For example, using the term "pilot error" to refer to many cases where the technology was so poorly designed that even well-trained professionals didn't catch the tech-related problems.
The bias against the user is formidable, and I view this research as the users (the important people) waking up and realizing that they are not at fault for bad design.
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My cellphone is a great alarm clock, Auto updates the time, 72 hour battery backup, really loud and annoying tone, and I just hit 7 buttons to set it to any time (menu 4 1 xx:xx (time in 24 hour format) OK).
The only problem it has is the button marked snooze is ajasent to the turn off alarm button, fortunatly any key on the keypad snoozes too. It is the best alarm clock I have ever had (though in hotels I also use a wake-up call).
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time displays
Yes, I had an old clock radio with an old-fashioned display, with the flipping cards(like the countdown timer in LOST). Setting that 1 hour behind was fun. 23 hours of scrolling fun.
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Ya.... If only...
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Are geeks dumb?
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Aim for the lowest common denominator
I recently purchased a cordless phone system by Panasonic. The manual is well written and logically organized. The box inlcuded a graphic of how to repack everything should have to return the phones. Amazing.
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Good UI is the most important function
Sure, the iRiver cost less, had more storage space, and more features (FM radio, line in). But, when it comes down to it, what's more important? Features, or the interaction experience? To me, and probably most people, the experience is the most important thing of all.
That said, nowadays I pretty much never use my iPod. Why? I've got XM in my car and iTunes radio at work. No playlists to juggle, nothing to plug in, nothing extra to shop for, a single button (ON) and I'm set.
I'm all for learning the ins and outs of a new device, but lately I've been questioning the value of all this multi-functionality. If you have to hit more than two buttons to get something to work, it's just not worth it. Basically, give me one gadget for each function (music, games, phone, food) and put a big green "GO" button on each one, and I'd be all set. Just make them small enough so I can fit all of them in one pocket, please.
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Best Alarm Clock
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http://www.megasoft2000.com/
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No Subject Given
Seriously, what's the last product you purchased that had a manual even a fraction this big? The biggest manual I've seen recently was about 40 pages long - 4 languages, 10 pages per language. My car owner's manual isn't even this big. In fact, most of the electronics I've purchased recently don't have written manuals at all, they have fold-out pictorial posters that show how to hook the device up (a practice I believe was started by HP with their printers)
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Apparently I forgot the sarcasm tags.
However, a phone that I got did have a manual that was about 300 pages.
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Apple...
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You may be onto something here.
Case in point, Fedora Core 2, Command line interface . useradd -p [pw] [user] doesn't work! Why not? Instead of adding a user with one simple string, I have to use two different strings. While this doesn't add too much time to my day, it did take some time for me to figure out that the -p flag is worthless in this distro of Linux, and it is slightly frustrating that the people developers allowed a stupid bug like that got past their quality control department.
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Re: You may be onto something here.
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