September 6, 2007 3 Things That Should Really Be Standardized
1) The order of grades of gas on a gas pump.
The vast majority of the time, the cheap grade of gas is on the left side of the row. However, there’s one particular gas station chain where the order is reversed, and the most expensive grade is on the left.
I’ll bet that chain makes a lot of money from consumers who accidentally purchase the premium grade instead of regular unleaded. I know I almost do that, all the time. So standardization in this case would probably have to be imposed from the outside.
2) The location and design of the wipers, headlights, and turn signals in cars.
It isn’t just annoying that this is always different; it could be a safety concern when driving a new or unfamiliar car. At worst, you could end up blinding an oncoming driver instead of turning on your windshield wipers in the rain. At best, it distracts attention from the road, which is never a good thing.
A friend once argued, when I mentioned this, that it was a branding method for car manufacturers. That doesn’t ring true to me; when was the last time you heard the location and operation of the windshield wipers trumpeted in an automobile ad? I think that standardizing these three things would still leave plenty of room for brand differentiation in the rest of a car’s interior.
3) The way you set the time on a digital watch.
I always dread the return to Standard Time, because I know that even though we get an hour back, I’ll spend about that long trying to figure out how to set my damn watch.
It has four buttons; you’d think that one of them would allow you to change the time. But no, they managed to design it such that setting the time involves three of the buttons (all of them but “glow”), which have to be pressed in a particular combination, including some which must be held down for three seconds to change the mode. I’ve had this watch for more than three years, and I still can’t remember how to do this every time.
I feel like analog watches have this down pretty well. Digital watches should follow suit.
1. This sucks.
2. I disagree, personal preference mostly, but I understand the level of personal frustration- I gripe when I drive my friend’s car, but it is surprisingly akin to the care
3. I don’t wear a watch. I used to, but not for a while (I miss the comfortable weight). I rather want one again, professionalism (small urge really. I’m not a terribly professional person though I respect, admire and generally try to be professional).
But, this does seem annoying. Yet, again- design issues are just that…design issues. Some things work and some things don’t -which brings me to the final point:
Interfaces are interesting, and I agree to them being problematic. People don’t take time to read pumps necessarily- they get used to where the grades are…and they press the button to find it to be different. (This is a mistake I have made, however I do not make it anymore. I check. I read rather quickly so scanning for “Regular” or whatnot and correcting myself when I’m about to press “Premium” isn’t such a big deal to me, but still. I’d see it hard to bring down from above, and I don’t care for that level or regulation- even for gas stations (chains really) with shyster/tricksy owners who want you paying for the super unleaded instead of regular…more money- yes, but they carry three kinds of gasoline in their “stock.” so why blame them for trying to sell it? (oh yeah, it is mean).
The car point is my biggest contention for one simple reason. If it is my car, I’m used to the way it handles- I like some of the features it has “branding” or I wouldn’t have bought it (I bought it because I could afford it, and Dad found it for a good deal, but nevermind that), I wouldn’t rent a car that doesn’t suit my needs, comfort and tastes. Simply put, the interface is part of branding in fact. It just isn’t advertised.
GMC Sedans (that I’ve driven or ridden in- I learned on an Oldsmobile, and no I’m not a car person), are rather similar in the interface for the lights, wipers and gear shift actually (they’re rarely in manual I imagine, but if they were- that’s covered too). Essentially, this is a comfortable design- probably for designers as well as the target consumers (the ones that keep buying them, often enough elderly women), but they don’t advertise “Granny Friendly Shifting” they advertise safety ratings, things they like. SALESMEN sell you on the looks, feel and perhaps the interface and handly.
I sit in a car, I get acquainted- I’m not having a cup of coffee with the car and sometimes the time for this is shorter or the situation more demanding (or the person, like driving my drunk friend home, who happens to drive a gmc sedan) than a full check. I actually did have an issue with the interface that could have had bad for actual driving Friday night- but the only thing I remember really was that the light switch was actually off the the side and rather hidden for an unfamiliar driver. Why it was there I am not sure, but I imagine it was for a consideration the engineers had- or even a consumer concern.
At anyrate, I liked the handling and interface for the Jeep, but I also like some aspects about the KIA and its interface that I wouldn’t trade. Well, I would possibly trade some of them for a tape deck though…(little things, like the ejectable cup holder are nice, but then it covers the small digital clock)
I think KIA, and its engineers are clever, innovative perhaps and insistent on fuel efficiency and return buyers (perhaps they listen to their market, but their first market was South Korea?)- the Sportage is a common car around here. Also, safety, but if you ask me the Jeep was safer than the KIA, but you know how loose I was with it. I can be that loose now with the KIA actually, but I’m milder as I’ve matured…mostly.
Ahem.
I think it is interesting that you want to discuss standardization, this seems dull enough, but you got my heckles up at first.
Generally, my point was that people are different- so interfaces will be different for some things. I do think design issues are a matter that I will gladly leave to survival of the fittest and consumer choice and input. Regulation for gas button locations is a more politically potent issue, and car interfaces I’d fight you on. But watches can be damn hard to set. I don’t want a 20 page manual with it (12 of them in other languages I don’t know), I just want to know the time and possibly the date, set an alarm perhaps, and be able to hear it if I am napping or set the volume if I’m in a social situation where such could be rude but necessary- thus a decent phone would be good to have again
All in all, I’m a tough customer. I do think Consumer Reports will end up being a magazine I read more as I age- I looked in one at Digital Cameras (was disappointed in the performance of the Lumix Line since I bought my old one- it was a good camera, but plagued with issues that show its age now) and batteries. Lithiums are great if you have high power needs and Alkaline are the better alternative for low usage, rechargeables have a high rate of power drain when they sit, but they work if you need them too, I just lose them (and eventually they expire too).
I guess I’m just an outlier, I’m nitpicky in weird ways but will totally put up with bothersome features or lack of features or even problems if I like something else. I like looks and feels, I’ve always been a tactile sensitive person…with a strong memory (especially in the emotional sense)
I’ll take non-ergonomic handles for some tools, I’m an aesthetic person. Wood or metal handles can be comfortable in a way that is different than padding or grip fitted contours. (for one, padded foam breaks up over time- at least old foam did.)
When/if you do come around the Tennessee Valley area in December, remind me to bring up my old Ricoh.
For a film camera- it DEFIES standard interface intuition BUT owns at functionality and quirkyness. If I ever find a Ricoh Hi-Color-S, I’m buying it. Self-timer? YES.
Comment by Andrew. — September 17, 2007 @ 8:31 am
Concise as ever, I see.
> I think it is interesting that you want to discuss standardization, this seems dull enough, but you got my heckles up at first.
Not at all, standardization is part of usability, which is part of good design, which is part of what I write about in this blog from time to time.
You do bring up a good point that sometimes different interfaces are better for different user groups.
Comment by bri — September 19, 2007 @ 6:58 pm