Overview of existing products of interest.

Elaine Potter

0643408

Advantages and Disadvantages

Basic Computer Mouse

Advantages Disadvantages

•Is a familiar product.•Can be made very cheaply.•Is used by my primary target market (the basic user group)•Has intuitive controls.

•Has problems tracking on uneven surfaces (e.g bed and couch)•Not as portable as it could be.•Isn’t well suited to the unstructured, casual environment.

Logitech MX Air

Advantages Disadvantages

•Does everything a regular mouse does.•Has the added advantage of being able to track in the air.

•Using unfamiliar technology (new product do people trust it completely?)•Expensive.

iPod

Advantages Disadvantages•Gives users a way to store and playback music.•Extremely stylish, seen as an accessory aswel as a functioning product.•Ultra portable.•Comes in a wide range of colours.

•Dominating market. Smaller innovative companies are unable to compete.

iPhone

Advantages Disadvantages

•Ultra slim and portable.•Fashionable.•New technology. Up to date.•Intuitive controls.•Used alot for social networking (i.e Twitter updates)

•Costly•Low battery time.•Not very customisable.•No grips.

Mobile Phone

Advantages Disadvantages•Portable•Used for a variety of applications besides calls and txts.

–Games–Social Networking–Camera/ Video

•Variety of colours.•Ergonomic•Keeps people connected.

•Can not control other devices, like television and laptop.

Remote Control

Advantages Disadvantages•Is commonly used in the most unstructured of environments.•Portable•Remote controls are made in a variety of cost brackets.

•Most people have a problem with the product being a bit too portable, as in getting lost in the room, between cushions etc.

Touch screen Remote Control

Advantages Disadvantages•Functions the same as a normal remote control but uses the latest touch screen technology. Aswel as additional external controls.•Portable

•Very expensive.•For the higher end of the target market.

Wireless Keypad, with scroll pad

Advantages Disadvantages•Allows to navigate a laptop from far away.•Perfect for unstructured environments.•Slim•Light•Portable

•Expensive•From initial research it seems to be a mostly American market (they are more used to typing on the Blackberry style keyboard)•Cramped keypad

Trackball mouseAdvantages Disadvantages•Can perform all the basic functions of a mouse.•Has the added advantages of staying stationary whilst in use, so it avoids the problems of uneven tracking surface of a normal mouse.•More ergonomic than regular mouse shape, used by people with carpal tunnel syndrome.

•Unfamiliar shape, people shy away from it when impulse buying.•Is more expensive to buy than basic mouse shapes.

Built in scrollpad on laptop

Advantages Disadvantages•Is built in to every laptop.•No additional cost.•Portable, no need to carry and extra device with laptop.

•Cramped.•When in constant use the hands are held at a cramped angle. Not ergonomic.

Stylus and Touchscreen

Advantages Disadvantages•Used in design work for precision detail.•Used when navigating on small surfaces, e.g iPod.•Small and portable.•A lot cheaper in the past few years.

•So small that it can get lost easily.

Summary of findings shown

• Touchscreen technology is a huge up and coming market.

• New designs in technology seem to be more successful when they have a since of familiarity about them (layout of controls, or familiar shape)

• Size and weight is an important factor when dealing with portability.

• Cost is a deciding factor when aiming towards the basic user.