When good things happen to bad products: where are the benefits of usability in the consumer appliance market?

  • Authors:
  • Timo Jokela

  • Affiliations:
  • Oulu University, Finland

  • Venue:
  • interactions
  • Year:
  • 2004

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Abstract

Consider the following three stories about usability and consumer appliances. • A cellular phone with significant usability problems was launched. Still, the product was a great sales success and many users even seemed to have enjoyed using the product. • A new generation game device was developed. It had usability problems that led to wide-spread user dissatisfaction and the reputation of the product was severely damaged. • Some users of a new generation smart phone were happy with the product while others rejected it, finding its usability problems intolerable.