Comments on: Frustrating Technology Riddles

By: Ramjee

Ramjee — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 07:13:57 +0000

I agree. There are so many things out there which are a pain to use. I believe it is utter lack of concern for the end user. I don’t agree with what many people say that, it is because of more features.
More features make it difficult for a good design, but you can’t give that as an excuse for bad design.

By: UrbanFlute

UrbanFlute — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 12:22:16 +0000

Perhaps more of a musing than a Tech-riddle, however it’s funny how the generation that grew up being told to ‘move back form the tv set’ now hover within inches for hours at a time!
J

By: Tim A

Tim A — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:16:33 +0000

On the composite hockey sticks. I’m a dying bread who up until recently still loved the good old wooden sticks. Problem is, I haven’t been able to find one that I actually like in over 5 years. I ended up trying a shaft with the wooden blades on the end. Completely useless. They saved no money whatsoever and broke all the time.

I finally broke down and bought an older end of the line composite. Best stick I’ve owned in about 10 years. I immediately went out and bought a second to have a backup before they were out of stock. Both of them (I switch back and forth between them during games) have lasted probably longer than about 3-4 wood or blades so far so I’ll soon have gotten my money’s worth even if they do shatter soon.

By: Mark Evans

Mark Evans — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:17:09 +0000

Thanks for the insight. I’ll have to check out the Harmony remotes - another excuse to fool around with new toys!

Mark

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:27:17 +0000

I think a lot of this comes down to one thing, the tech savvy that want the most for their dollar… that and bragging rights. I would say that most of what you have mentioned (except maybe the IPod market) is dominated by men. I am a man, I love technology, and I want the biggest and baddest thing in a remote or camera. I want to go to my friend and say “oh your remote control can’t do this? Mine can. You are so far behind the times”

It’s the ego in many cases and this fuels manufacturers to put more features into everything because it sells more. Being that I specialize in technology, I love it and probably part of the problem. However, I can see how the sophistication in everything we buy/use/sell can be daunting for non-tech folk.

Once I had to teach my mom how to use the automated gas pumps because she is not big on technology. Going from the regular gas pumps where you flipped a lever and watched mechanical wheels go around adding up to a price to something digital and tons of buttons was confusing.

In short you do have a few points, but increasing complexity in simple things is to be expected given how humanity buys because of wants and ego rather than needs.

By: Jim Courtney

Jim Courtney — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:51:42 +0000

Logitech’s Harmony line of Remote Controls has solved your concerns; it is the only way my wife can readily “Turn On/Off” the TV in our home threatre system. Configure once for your particular home theatre system (via a PC and Logitech’s Harmoney servers) - a straight forward process; then simply click Watch TV, Watch a DVD, Listen to Radio, Listen to a CD and you have the various operations in action. There are a minimum of buttons for other activies while viewing/listening.

Best part, it is a “made in Canada” solution which Logitech acquired a few years ago but left operating in Mississauga; they even have customer support on Chritsmas day.

By: Darren

Darren — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 12:24:00 +0000

On #4, I’d guess that 95% of hockey stick buyers also watch hockey. You couldn’t watch five NHL games without learning about the innate fragility of composite sticks. Not only do they break frequently during games, but the colour guys love to complain about the phenomenon.

I agree that it’s a consumer issue, but I’d argue that the vast majority of buyers are fully aware of the composite’s drawbacks when they slap down their $200.