This is an cheap exercise bike which I have at home, that gives your brain a workout instead of your body. Initially at least anyway.
If you haven't already noticed, the bike interface instructions state 'Press START to begin workout'. And now I'll let you try and find the start button in the first picture. Have you found it yet?? Because I still haven't and I've had the bike for nearly 6 months.
Collectively there has been much time wasted trying to find this so called 'START' button in my family and friends, and it still remains not found. Eyes have literally looked at this bike from top to bottom and back to front, so let me assure you there is NO start button on this bike (or on screen interface when the bike is turned on).
When I saw that this weeks blog was to be about good/bad interface design, I thought this a perfect example of the bad category. This minuet design error completely destroyed the intended interaction between user and product upon first encounter.
In order to to have a good design interface, you need to at least get the basics right first. Which in this case is either having all the appropriate buttons or more accurate instructions. This is one of many examples that everyone has seen over the years, but is a simple error that often ruins the intended interaction between user and product. The functionality of this bike is perfectly fine and CAN actually give a decent workout, but this is somewhat overshadowed by a simple design flaw.
So from now on when I'm design interface, I'm going to double-triple check that I always have the basics right, and then build it up from there if need be.
This is an cheap exercise bike which I have at home, that gives your brain a workout instead of your body. Initially at least anyway.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't already noticed, the bike interface instructions state 'Press START to begin workout'. And now I'll let you try and find the start button in the first picture. Have you found it yet?? Because I still haven't and I've had the bike for nearly 6 months.
Collectively there has been much time wasted trying to find this so called 'START' button in my family and friends, and it still remains not found. Eyes have literally looked at this bike from top to bottom and back to front, so let me assure you there is NO start button on this bike (or on screen interface when the bike is turned on).
When I saw that this weeks blog was to be about good/bad interface design, I thought this a perfect example of the bad category. This minuet design error completely destroyed the intended interaction between user and product upon first encounter.
In order to to have a good design interface, you need to at least get the basics right first. Which in this case is either having all the appropriate buttons or more accurate instructions. This is one of many examples that everyone has seen over the years, but is a simple error that often ruins the intended interaction between user and product. The functionality of this bike is perfectly fine and CAN actually give a decent workout, but this is somewhat overshadowed by a simple design flaw.
So from now on when I'm design interface, I'm going to double-triple check that I always have the basics right, and then build it up from there if need be.
Matt wade