Wonderful UK Article on "Feature Creep"

[danemodsandy]

Even as appliance quality goes down, complexity goes up, because today, features are supposed to be what sells.

Unfortunately, this ladling on of features (made possible by cheap electronics) has resulted in a lot of appliances that are needlessly complicated to operate, with baffling jargon used to describe cycles or other settings.

The U.K.'s Guardian has a terrific article about just this subject, with something you'd never see in a U.S. paper - some particularly egregious offenders are singled out by manufacturer, brand name and model number.

They have it spot on the money - there is no real reason for half of what you see on appliances nowadays:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/feb/27/household-appliances-too-complicated

 

[d-jones]

The author has a pleasantly sarcastic sense of humor, well suited to the subject matter. Thanks for sharing. It was an entertaining read.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Ha ha...

Morning Sandy, Thats the funniest article for a while, and he`s right!! - But to the consumer who wants to wash and go, load slot, down and brown, switch on and suck - then he`s not.....

Because most people dont bother reading the information and instructions book, havnt time to disect the pictures versus line by line details, and just want - need - require the appliance to do its job without fuss....

I must admit the best thing ever to come onto washers and dryers (esp large load) is the Bed & Bath, Allergy and Duvet cycle because at least (and does the customer known) their clothes are getting a good old fashioned HOT WASH.....

Nowthen if they had only read their information (war and peace trilogy) booklet then they would have known that Programme Two or C does the same thing...LOl

 

[davey7]

Yes, thank you, entertaining article.