A Lesson in Design From Nokia

Author: J. Angelo Racoma Category: Design, Gadgets, Mobile, Usability Tags: Cellular, Design, ForeverGeek, Gadgets, Mobile, Nokia, Usability Views: 3604

Wednesday
Jun 7, 2006

I’m not very fond of Nokias, but I’ve been posting about them like there was no tomorrow. My primary motivation: usability.

My most recent posts on ForeverGeek involve mobile phones and mobile technology (and how they also apply to design concepts outside of mobile telephony). I basically rave about how, no matter how high-tech my mobile goes, I would always go back to using it just as that—a mobile telephone—for calling, texting, and the occasional alarm clock needs.

First, on ForeverGeek, I find it funny how mobile phone junkies (like myself) always have this urge to buy the latest gadget, but end up using the phone’s basic features after the novelty wears off.

It’s all about going back to the basics, right? Well, for most of us, it’s probably a bit more complicated than that. It usually involves getting excited and itching to buy—and actually purchasing—the mobile with the latest and greatest in features and technology. Then after some time, the novelty of emailing even while you’re taking a piss and downloading Britney Spears’ latest single at the same time wears off. You’d go back to using your mobile phone as just that—a mobile telephone, for calling, sending SMS, and yes, the occasional calendar entry and email. Of course there’s the glorified alarm clock part.

Then, just recently, I thought of how Nokia should be the model in terms of usability and design. Yes, they have clunky interfaces (i.e., nested vertical folders instead of shortcuts) but they’re practically stupid-proof!

Nokias rule because even the dummiest of dummies can operate them. Yes,the interface is usually clunky (like vertical-folder instead of grid like everyone else). But it works.

It’s ironic that some devices that have what we perceive to be clunky interfaces are, in fact, those with the friendliest UIs—so friendly that many mobile users will simply not consider any other brand because they’re comfortable with a certain interface, and will stick to that.

Of course there’s my post a few weeks ago about the spartan Nokia 1100 (eleventy-hundred?).

On a side-note, I don’t use a Nokia myself, at least not as a primary phone. But like it or not, they’re top brand in the world.

Enjoy reading!

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Comments

Lex

June 7th, 2006 at 11:55 am

Nokia? Try Sonyericsson, i like this brand.

June 7th, 2006 at 1:42 pm

i don’t understand it either. even if you’re the techie person among the lot, i see no point in an all-in-one phone. or at least not yet. if i want pictures, i’ll go for a digital camera that has decent megapixels and zoom and lowlight adjustments. and the shutterspeed, please. >_

J. Angelo Racoma

June 7th, 2006 at 1:46 pm

Lex, I like SonyEricsson, too. But the latest models are so snazzed that they don’t look (and feel) like phones anymore!

Sometimes, the UIs are also slow. I read that’s because of the DSP chipset they use (w/c was also used in some Siemens phones that were also sooooo slow).

J. Angelo Racoma

June 7th, 2006 at 1:48 pm

Ia, thanks for the comment! Yeah, I don’t see the point in those all-in-one phones. Actually, the newest 3G Nokias are so big and bulky as they seem to fit in everything in the phones (i.e., zoom lenses, dual-cameras, etc.). I like the simplicity and elegance of those smaller phones that don’t try to cram in too much, but are still excellent in terms of usability and functionality. Are you familiar with the XphoneII?

Lex

June 8th, 2006 at 12:49 pm

HI Ia, perhaps there hasn’t been a time when you needed a cellphone just as quick as a handy camera then a PDA to get you through the web and a scheduler to keep you up to date by the hour all in rapid succession ‘cause you might just think about this message

Lex

June 8th, 2006 at 12:50 pm

... uhhh what’s an Xphone II?