My experience with a broken guitar string highlights the importance of usability in product packaging.
Fitt’s Law is one that typically sets the stage for any introductory class in usability principles. In fact most are just called principles, this one is a law!
But just because it is one of the basics doesn’t mean it is not overlooked. In fact it is overlooked a lot.
Here are two examples of how Apple has neglected this usability principle in a major portion of their OS X interface.
Fable 3 is a great interactive experience. In this video I explore how inconsistency can cause user error in an otherwise well designed interface.
Bose is known for its quality stereo products. But when should usability be sacrificed to make tomorrows product more hip than yesterdays?
The hazard light switch is a Fitt’s Law’s wet dream on most any car. The Gestalt in me, however, is very upset with it.
The speed dial on my box fan certainly won’t have me bumbling about my apartment in confusion but it troubles me none the less.
What could be so wild and crazy about a simple box fan? Watch and see.
When you show someone a new car they invariably ask to look under the hood. Even when we know nothing about automobile engines this is something we want to see.
Presumably a mechanic would also find this feature useful.
Yet, surprisingly, on my Mini Cooper it took me several minutes to find the latch to release the hood when showing it to a friend. And when I had a complimentary inspection performed the technician (not a BMW tech) had to call me and ask as well.
Where was this cleverly hidden latch? Watch the video and find out.
In a few short days my Flip camera should arrive and I will begin blogging in earnest about usability issues I come across in my daily life. I don’t intend to go out of my way to find usability issues so I’m as of yet unsure how often I will post but I do intend to keep my Flip with me at all times so that I can document issues that I encounter.
