Bad Tech
Some times the best tech devices are the low tech ones. In this world of newer is better, let’s look at those tech devices that drive us crazy and celebrate the stuff that just works.
Cellphones
Cellphone manufacturers are stuffing their offerings with new features that most of us will ever use. Searching the web on anything other than an iPhone is a frustrating exercise. When was the last time you used the calculator on your cellphone? Texting is huge with young people, but most mature adults can’t be bothered punching a key 4 times to type a Z. And what’s with those ultra tiny keys?
Photos taken with most cellphone cameras can hardly be called photos. These blurry, pixilated, tiny images are rarely useful other than to capture a moment in time when nothing better is available.
I went shopping for a new cellphone with my wife recently and she returned determined to keep her current phone as none of the new offerings had buttons large enough for her to read. I think the first company to offer a cellphone that is only makes calls and has huge, easy to read buttons in a stylish package will sell a pile.
Calculators
Every electronic device seems to include a calculator but I still reach for my Texas Instruments desk calculator rather than searching my computer of the virtual one. I don’t like the switching back and forth between applications and find it simpler to use.
Earbuds
These little buds are to rest in your ear and provide hi-fi sound. If you have an iPod you’ll probably agree that the sound they produce leaves a lot to be desired. They rarely stay put and pop out anytime you smile, turn your head or bend over to tie your shoes. Give me my regular sized Grado RS 60 headphones. They sound great and stay where I want them. They also clearly say, “Don’t bug me I am listening to music.”
MP3 Players
The iPod has revolutionized the way we listen to music and Apple has made using one simple, intuitive and enjoyable. The same can’t be said for many of the other brands that suffer from the same counter-intuitive menu problems and glitchy computer interfaces.
Panic Buttons
The panic alarm on your car remote, who thought of this idiotic device? Push it accidentally and your car screams, flashes its lights and generally makes sounds that should only come from Si-fi movie soundtracks embarrassing you and annoying anyone within 6 miles. Worse yet, has anyone ever come running to your aid after pushing this button? I bet not, the best I was able to attract was a scowl from passerby on Corydon when I conducted this test.
Wall Warts
You know what these are, they are the huge black slabs of plastic at the end of a power cord. They take up at least two spots on your power bar, they don’t seem to be interchangeable at all so you end up with dozens for which the device it matches to is long gone. They usually restrict the power coming out of the wall outlet stepping it down to a sip that won’t fry your device. They convert this power drop into heat and the darn things rarely seem to stay attached to wall as time and gravity slowly pull them out of the socket causing something to stop working at the most inappropriate time.
There are still gadgets out there that can drive us crazy, but they do make us appreciate those that just work elegantly and simply.
Cellphones
Cellphone manufacturers are stuffing their offerings with new features that most of us will ever use. Searching the web on anything other than an iPhone is a frustrating exercise. When was the last time you used the calculator on your cellphone? Texting is huge with young people, but most mature adults can’t be bothered punching a key 4 times to type a Z. And what’s with those ultra tiny keys?
Photos taken with most cellphone cameras can hardly be called photos. These blurry, pixilated, tiny images are rarely useful other than to capture a moment in time when nothing better is available.
I went shopping for a new cellphone with my wife recently and she returned determined to keep her current phone as none of the new offerings had buttons large enough for her to read. I think the first company to offer a cellphone that is only makes calls and has huge, easy to read buttons in a stylish package will sell a pile.
Calculators
Every electronic device seems to include a calculator but I still reach for my Texas Instruments desk calculator rather than searching my computer of the virtual one. I don’t like the switching back and forth between applications and find it simpler to use.
Earbuds
These little buds are to rest in your ear and provide hi-fi sound. If you have an iPod you’ll probably agree that the sound they produce leaves a lot to be desired. They rarely stay put and pop out anytime you smile, turn your head or bend over to tie your shoes. Give me my regular sized Grado RS 60 headphones. They sound great and stay where I want them. They also clearly say, “Don’t bug me I am listening to music.”
MP3 Players
The iPod has revolutionized the way we listen to music and Apple has made using one simple, intuitive and enjoyable. The same can’t be said for many of the other brands that suffer from the same counter-intuitive menu problems and glitchy computer interfaces.
Panic Buttons
The panic alarm on your car remote, who thought of this idiotic device? Push it accidentally and your car screams, flashes its lights and generally makes sounds that should only come from Si-fi movie soundtracks embarrassing you and annoying anyone within 6 miles. Worse yet, has anyone ever come running to your aid after pushing this button? I bet not, the best I was able to attract was a scowl from passerby on Corydon when I conducted this test.
Wall Warts
You know what these are, they are the huge black slabs of plastic at the end of a power cord. They take up at least two spots on your power bar, they don’t seem to be interchangeable at all so you end up with dozens for which the device it matches to is long gone. They usually restrict the power coming out of the wall outlet stepping it down to a sip that won’t fry your device. They convert this power drop into heat and the darn things rarely seem to stay attached to wall as time and gravity slowly pull them out of the socket causing something to stop working at the most inappropriate time.
There are still gadgets out there that can drive us crazy, but they do make us appreciate those that just work elegantly and simply.
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