I agree, a decent job indeed if you take in mind the technical and
economical limitations a state-of-the-art handset has. But advancedness
would always be relative. Still, in that relative spectrum there are
companies that do a good job and some that don't. When I was in Japan last
year I saw phones with a user interface that consisted out of icons,
floating on little clouds, rotating when the user used the small joystick.
The text based menu on my own phone, and that I regared as 'the best you can
get out of it' seemed at that moment very clumsy.
The mobile phone has moved from being a technological device into a consumer
device. From a technological statement to a fashion statement. The user
interface has evolved from a text based one to an intuitive small graphics
based system. Basically it will enable the masses to use advanced services
in an easy way. Thus creating a fertile soil for even more intuitive
interfaces, but as long as technological and economical factors allow that.
What I would like to argue that it is not the telecom-technology
manufacturers that have the best position for launching a consumer
electronics device. It is the companies that have years of experience in the
consumer business. Whether that is with a game console, miniature watch,
discman, or any other device that needs intuitive user interfaces. As long
as it is not with manufacturing base stations and mobile switching center.
And just as the computer industry, that has (thanks to technology) evolved
from text-based user interfaces to interactive graphics environments, and
the consumer electronics industry that has moved from a 50-key VCR remote
control to more intuitive designs, the mobile phone industry will make a
similar shift. But again, only if at least technological factors and
economical factors allow it.
Best regards,
Paul
>If there's a consumer electronics version of mobile phone, it will have the
>numbers to dial, one button to call and one button to end the call. The
>mobile phone is really a combination of consumer electronics and computer
>device. And if you look how the computer world has succeeded in the
>usability and user interface business (with the exception of Apple), I
think
>the cellular companies have done a decent job (with the exception of
>Motorola, unless you really like the Motorola user interface, I don't know
>anyone who does..).
>Petri
[ Did you check the archives? http://www.appelsiini.net/keitai-l/ ]
Received on Mon Mar 19 12:11:45 2001