Nathan Zeldes has a very cool article on the history of the On/Off power switch glyph.
Filed under: Electronic Interfaces, Examples, Physical Interfaces, Standards, Symbols, Usability | Tagged: Electronic Interfaces, Standards, Symbols, Usability | No Comments »
The latest BlackBerry phones are fitted with quite a few of the best features. The sets come with large TFT screens with control buttons and keypad placed adjacent to each other. However, the designs of the handsets differ from one another. Most of the sets are fitted with a QWERTY keypad. This enables the user [...]
Filed under: Electronic Interfaces, Mobile Devices, Physical Interfaces, Usability, Usability News | Tagged: BlackBerry, Mobile Devices, Phones, Usability | 1 Comment »
he consequences of a data breach can be far-reaching and complex, but in almost every case the cause is simple. An employee, the ‘average user’, has either taken a shortcut around the security procedures or lost a device with critical data in a public place, or both.
Randy Sutton of Ottawa’s Elytra Enterprises asks, “How many [...]
Filed under: Electronic Interfaces, Physical Interfaces, Usability, Usability News | Tagged: mobile, News, security, Usability | No Comments »
UPDATE: A friend of mine found a new and improved version of the tool! It’s by Kikkerland Designs. The product is called Classic Survival Tool. You can buy it at Fishboy.com.
In my recent blog entry, Clever simple designs of everday tools, I referenced a tool called the “Multi-handy Tool.” I found the original pictures [...]
Filed under: Examples, Physical Interfaces, Simplicity, Usability | Tagged: Multi-handy Tool, Usability | 3 Comments »
I love simple tools. The fewer parts, the fewer the movements, the better. Nathan’s Possibly Interesting Web Site has put together an eclectic but very cool list of some great, simple tools.
This multi-handy tool is my favorite.
The one thing I always have with me is my wallet. Now all I have to do is get [...]
Filed under: Elegant Design, Examples, Physical Interfaces, Simplicity, Usability | Tagged: Simplicity, Tools, Usability | 6 Comments »
Interesting article at statesman.com on the recent trend of manufactures considering usability in PC design.
“‘We call that experience design,’ said Michael Tatelman, Dell’s vice president of consumer sales and marketing. ‘It’s not just design. The marriage of that digital experience to the physical experience is really important.’”…
It’s not just Apple any more.
Filed under: Physical Interfaces, Usability, Usability News | Tagged: Apple, Dell, PC, Usability | No Comments »
I have another TV related usability story. We have a cheap TV we use in the basement. It’s a Konka (I’ve never heard of them either). It was given to me so I can’t complain too much. It’s a decent TV. Good picture and all of that. But there’s something that really bugs me about [...]
Filed under: Examples, Observations, Physical Interfaces, Standards, Symbols, Usability | Tagged: Usability, TV, Physical Interfaces, Konka | 1 Comment »
Texture and placement can improve usability. After all, many user interfaces have at least some spatial or physical component. Even if every interface you design is web based, your users are probably going to be using a mouse. And they’re certainly going to be affected by the placement and layout of navigational elements on the [...]
Filed under: Examples, Observations, Physical Interfaces, Usability | Tagged: Placement, Remote Controls, Texture, Usability | No Comments »
Most beginner programming books use ATM machines as a tool to explain the concepts behind transactions. I’m also going to use the ATM machine, but this time as a way to illustrate good usability.
Communicating with the user is always important to maintaining a good user experience. But it becomes even more important when there is [...]
Filed under: Electronic Interfaces, Error Messages, Observations, Physical Interfaces, Transactions, Usability | Tagged: Transactions, Usability | No Comments »
