The paradox of technology is this: "The same technology that simplifies life by
providing more functions in each device also complicates life by making the device harder to learn, harder to use (The Design of Everyday Things, p. 31)." Take the modern cell phone, or "smartphone." It is packed with features. It is essentially a miniature computer with the added ability to make telephone calls. The problem lies in the fact that no one quite knows how to access all of these fancy features, or even the relatively simple ones.
For example, the alarm clock on my smartphone is accessed by unlocking the phone (2 actions) clicking on the clock on the home screen, pressing the (+) sign, setting the time (5 separate actions), checking the "turn alarm on" box, pressing the"done" button, pressing the icon shaped like a house, and turning off the phone screen. A total of 13 separate actions. It is like hiding the control to turn off the air conditioning in a car behind a door in the glove compartment that has a lock. The worst part is that the special functions of my phone might actually make my life easier if I could remember how to use them. But I can't, because I did not design my phone and thus do not know how to operate all of its features, which greatly outnumber the given controls on the phone. So, yes, it is nice to have all of those fancy features on my phone, but they don't do me any good if I can't figure out where they are hidden or even if they exist.
Personally as a fan of Smartphones, I think it is nicer to have multiple functions on one device rather than to have multiple devices. Wouldn't it be annoying to buy a separate music player, an alarm clock, a radio, a voice recorder, a camera, while you can have it all in one? After all, that total of 13 separate actions only takes about 20 seconds.
ReplyDeleteI love my smartphone, but I agree that some functions should be simplified. It's definitely a problem when you want to reset your alarm for a later time and you're half asleep in the morning. However, I also agree with Clare that it is nice to have a multi-function phone. It saves you from having to buy various devices and worrying over bringing them all when you go out with friends (and saves space and muscle too).
ReplyDeleteWhile smartphones have demonstrated some revolutionary design, there are also aspects that leave a lot to be desired. And there is a tremendous tension in them, and all products, between simple and multi-function. It is extremely difficult to get right. I recently saw a TV ad for a phone that has an "easy" button (or something like that) that changes the home screen to something more simplistic ... very curious if it works for people!
ReplyDeleteVery nice job writing in the style of Norman.