3 ms·
TVs evolved from knobs on the device to buttons on a remote (or touchscreen). Washing machines evolved from finicky one way turn relay knobs to tactile bidirec
by parasubvert 2y ago
TVs evolved from knobs on the device to buttons on a remote (or touchscreen).
Washing machines evolved from finicky one way turn relay knobs to tactile bidirectional digital knobs with buttons for options (like extra rinses, prewash, temperature, etc)
VCRs used to be so unusable they'd blink 12:00 because no one knew how to set the time. BluRay players and PVRs put everything on screen accessible via remote or mobile app.
Smart door locks make it very easy to lock/unlock a door via phone or watch vs futzing with keys that can be easily lost possibly requiring a new lock. Much better for guests or families.
Old dial or even digital thermostats were nearly impossible to properly schedule, modern digital thermostats use phones or websites, much easier (and also visualizes all your HVAC stats!)
Smart lights let you group lights together independent of power wiring, change colors, etc
Japanese in-seat toilet bidets with dashboards or remote are masterful compared to traditional bidets with faucets.
Single lever faucets vs separate dial faucets for hot/cold water
- snapcaster 2y agoBut those are all hardware changes right? besides the smart lock? Of course changing the hardware fundamentally will require a different UI but i meant for the same device
- parasubvert 2y agoThey're UI changes? Like I'm not entirely sure what you're arguing, any modern UI always involves some mix of hardware (physical controls and maybe a touchscreen) and software. My point is that the design space in the UI does evolve for the better in many cases. A Nest thermostat for example which is a mix of screen, physical button and dial, is way more usable and feature rich than old school digital thermostats with buttons and monochrome LED displays.
- snapcaster 2y agoMy point is that for a given appliance, the UI shouldn't really change ever so can be physical