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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 3 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 3 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 3 days ago +2
    I am not a fan of adding batteries and making everything wireless.
  • genebren
    genebren 3 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…
  • Andrew J
    Andrew J 3 days ago

    Internet and/or Bluetooth connectivity via an app for something that really doesn’t need it: fridge, washing machine, water softener….Adds unnecessary expense, complication, data capture and often frustration.

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  • genebren
    genebren 3 days ago

    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 not a big fan of features that provide little to no benefit to the end user.

    Underused design feature - cost benefit analyst.  Why spend more on a feature that provides so little to the end user.

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  • robogary
    robogary 3 days ago

    Overused - "factory"  debug diagnostics in commercial products . Can't ever connect with factory engineers who can translate and effect a meaningful solution. 

    Underused - protection:  ground isolation, short circuit/impedance protection and transient suppression

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  • robogary
    robogary 3 days ago in reply to genebren

    and the twin sister return on investment

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  • bradfordmiller
    bradfordmiller 3 days ago in reply to dougw

    Wireless power would be nice (as in over the air power).

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  • Cliffyd43
    Cliffyd43 3 days ago

    My opinion is heatsinks. I have come across a few that were overkill!

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  • dang74
    dang74 2 days ago in reply to bradfordmiller

    Well said.  Hopefully the automakers will smarten up and trend back to old school tactile controls.

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  • shabaz
    shabaz 2 days ago in reply to dougw

    Can't stand it when there are so few buttons on some products, if it makes the user experience worse. I've got one piece of equipment that I cannot turn off, without this three-step process: (1) pressing the power button, (2) wait for the LCD to blink through some options every two seconds until it reaches "Off", then (3) quickly press the power button again!

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave 2 days ago in reply to Andrew J

    Often tied in with built-in obsolescence these days. Existing apps are pulled as newer models are released and you can end up with an expensive brick.

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