Talk Back: Is Technology Making our Life Simpler?

[dang]

Checkout our latest Talk Back: Is Technology Making our Life Simpler? (http://news.designtechnica.com/talkback25.html)

[Ioman]

One trend that I have noticed is that consumers are expecting every device to have the features of a Swiss Army knife. Everything has to be packed with features. I think this happens when innovations become fewer and competition gets more fierce.

This is the case with MP3 players, desktop and laptop computers. It is never good enough that the device is of good quality, performs well and looks stylish.

And maybe it is the reviewer/editor world that has spoiled things for us. Reviewers and editors always expect somthing new out of a product, something that seperates it from the rest. If it doesn't then it could not possibly get a better score than its competitor right?

For me I want a reliable, quality product that has the functions I immediately need and which performs well. Common now, how many people REALLY cook a whole turkey in a microwave or need USB 2.0 on a 128MB MP3 player (it takes less than 3 minutes to fill it up anyways).

[lilbudda]

The technology elitests are the only ones who want all the features...

Joe consumer just wants it to work for the purpose they bought it.

[Cloud]

Another good example would be cell phones. I just want good reception, clarity and consistency. I don't need a frigging flash light or FM tuner with mine.

[ECA]

NOT.
As Im the one all my family members come to to FIX , or set it up. And the only reason I have to do it?
There aint a BUTTON that says SETUP. The old way was to put a button for EACH thing or function. NOW 1 button does 16 things and 4 different levels of menus. And another one is on TV's the Channel setup on 1 set and another, are worded differently.
As I tell those I fix things for. Just PUSH the buttons and see what happens, that ALL Im doing most times.
KISS.... means making the buttons BIG enough, the number of buttons as manny as needed, and the Letters/words on the buttons CLEAR, as to funtion and readablity.

[ECA]

NOW....
Making an MP3 player that would use SD cards or such would be cool. But have they thought of this YET.
IF we USED all the tech we know at this time and raised the tech of the US to what it should BE. We would be about 40-60 years ahead of everyone else(except the Japeneese).