October 2006 – Ben Yee @ ITP

Observation and Analysis

Choosing one interface to write about became more difficult the more I considered some of the possibilities. I contemplated writing about several objects that I use on a daily basis, including the three doors and windows of my bedroom, my mailbox, my oven/stove, my microwave at home versus the beastly heating machine at work, the touchpad on my laptop, wretched fax machines, etc., but ultimately, I decided it would be most enjoyable to discuss an interface I genuinely admire.

My Samsung t509 has been my favorite of the four phones I’ve owned. I’ve had two candy-bar Nokia’s and one other Samsung flip. While the others had obvious issues (monotone screens, loose rubber pieces that fell off as the glue heated, and inaudible sound), this baby to your right has yet to seriously disappoint. Mainly, it’s sleek and sexy, the buttons are mapped well, the form is smart and convenient, the menus are intuitive, and it works well! So, specifically, let me address the requested areas in question: mapping, function and feedback, and affordance.

Mapping

Like most other cellular phones, the Samsung t509 has buttons with numbers and text, a “go” key, a “stop” key, a few navigation keys, volume controls, and a handy camera button. These controls are nicely spaced and positioned in a way that makes sense for the average cell user and his or her hand. The average user would expect the numbers, text, and special characters to appear below the navigation, because this is a convention that has worked. The camera button on the side is a nice touch that gives quick access to what a user wants. The “hotkeys” allowing a user to reach common features are also quite helpful and wisely positioned. It seems that pretty much any user with cell phone experience could pick this guy up and use it without a manual.

Function and Feedback

This is a phone. It is not a device meant to do much more than allow users mobility when talking. Though it does offer a video camera, camera, and a few other “bells,” the “whistles” would need to be found in another device. Sound and reception (with Tmobile) are a bit beyond satisfactory.

The ring and vibrate functions are strong audible and sensory indicators of incoming calls, voicemails, or text messages. The camera and picture message features also allow the user to assign images to individuals in the phone book, which would then give users a visual indicator of who is calling. The buttons light up and can make a noise each time they’re pressed. The fonts, colors, and sizes of the menus can be customized… So, the designers covered three senses, and I doubt any designer in the near future will begin incorporating taste or odor to a cellular phone model’s interface.

Affordance

What individual wouldn’t want to touch and toy with this gadget? It looks good, and by definition, buttons exist to be pressed. I guess sometimes people are afraid to use new technology, but this phone looks like fun. It has personality and therefore invites someone to pick it up. It simultaneously appears futuristic and simple, so it attracts attention and experimentation, but wouldn’t scare away a member of an older generation.

Although I could go on advertising Tmobile’s Samsung t509, it is not a perfect item, fine. It lacks a keyboard layout for speedier texting and perhaps a generally louder speaker (although the speaker phone feature compensates). In terms of interface though, I don’t have any real complaints. Maybe, the buttons could be softer for the sake of my fingers’ comfort, and the screen could always be bigger, but considering the assumed purpose of the designers and the product that resulted, I will continue to promote my phone until I purchase a better one