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Member's Forum Question of the Month: What design feature do you think is overused, something added out of habit rather than real need?
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  • Replies 19 replies
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  • question of the month
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Question of the Month: What design feature do you think is overused, something added out of habit rather than real need?

cstanton
cstanton 2 days ago

What's a design element or feature you think is overused, something people include out of habit rather than necessary?

When planning a project, it's easy to add unnecessary features in the design phase. These are the "just in case" or "that's how it's always done," but sometimes, those extra elements can add cost, complexity, or waste without really improving the project.

Bonus question: What design feature do you believe is underused?

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Top Replies

  • balajivan1995
    balajivan1995 2 days ago +2
    As someone who frequently work with HMI, I voted touch interface. Product companies think using a touch screen device will make the product more intuitive, but in reality consumers are more comfortable…
  • dougw
    dougw 2 days ago +2
    I am not a fan of adding batteries and making everything wireless.
  • genebren
    genebren 2 days ago +2
    Complexity - I tend to like to keep it simple. I have always found that small microcontrollers, with clean and simple tools set are easier to use and provide a quicker turnaround time for designs. I am…
  • dang74
    dang74 2 days ago

    Some custom, low volume test equipment would do just fine with buttons and a character display... touch screen adds unnecessary cost and complexity.

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  • balajivan1995
    balajivan1995 2 days ago

    As someone who frequently work with HMI, I voted touch interface. Product companies think using a touch screen device will make the product more intuitive, but in reality consumers are more comfortable with push buttons.

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  • dougw
    dougw 2 days ago

    I am not a fan of adding batteries and making everything wireless.

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  • balajivan1995
    balajivan1995 2 days ago in reply to dougw

    I'll be jobless without any wireless devices to work with for smart home IoT appliances.

    Slight smile

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  • bradfordmiller
    bradfordmiller 2 days ago in reply to balajivan1995

    Particularly when we want eyes-off capabilities (like in cars), the tactile feedback of actual buttons and knobs should not be underrated.

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  • dougw
    dougw 2 days ago

    Underused is great question. One thing I find annoying is the practise of minimizing the number of buttons, which ends up making the user interface slow, complex and non-intuitive. Think household thermostats. Does anybody remember how to program a VCR? Buttons can also be overused - like up/down buttons when a volume knob or slider is faster and more intuitive. Remember when you could just rotate a dial to the temperature you wanted.

    Remember when microcontrollers and SBCs came with a "monitor"  - a supervisory program that would allow direct control of all I/O or examining/altering memory. I miss that functionality. 

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  • bradfordmiller
    bradfordmiller 2 days ago in reply to dougw
    dougw said:
    Remember when microcontrollers and SBCs came with a "monitor"  - a supervisory program that would allow direct control of all I/O or examining/altering memory. I miss that functionality. 

    This. This is why computers should still have front panels. Plus you get a free light show.

    Why yes, I do have a PiDP-10. obsolescence.wixsite.com/.../pidp10

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  • kmikemoo
    kmikemoo 2 days ago in reply to dougw

    I'm with you on this one, dougw .  Not everything needs to be connected to the internet.

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  • DAB
    DAB 2 days ago in reply to balajivan1995

    I agree, my fingers are too big for many of the touch screens.

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  • DAB
    DAB 2 days ago in reply to dougw

    I agree Douglas.

    If it is wireless any communication can easily be intercepted.

    I prefer a more secure connection with real wire.

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