Everyday Usability 4

Prior to becoming a parent, I prepared for many things - diapers, late nights, regurgitation (to be light) - and have experienced them all (plus the many wonderful moments!) in my 13 months as a dad. What I wasn't consciously thinking about were toys - loads and loads of toys from relatives that simply want to spoil my little man until he looked like an oxidized apple core. Sure, I'm quite grateful for the hours of entertainment that the toys (may) provide (because we all know that the TV remote or a cell phone are far more fun than real toys), but I hated this:

That horrible this-toy-isn't-going-anywhere-and-will-join-the-cockroaches-post-nuclear-war twist ties that secure toys in their packaging. The ties consume hours of parents' time, as well as many more hours of small talk, blogging, and stand-up comedy. Clearly, we as parents hate these things but they are such a spectacular example of dreadful usability. Thankfully, some intelligent, common-sense packaging engineer/parent decided it was time that toys begin to use this:

They twist, yes, but simply require the user to turn it about 90 degrees to detach the packaged toy and commence play-time within seconds! Brilliant! I about did a back hand-spring when I came across the first toy packed with these nifty little tabs (which is quite impressive as I possess the coordination of an overly intoxicated buffalo). The overall goal is still achieved - keeping the toys secured and undamaged within the package - but the users don't have to struggle for minutes to detach a single tie.

Post-market surveillance is (and will continue to be) a hot-button topic within the medical device industry. Regulators want to see that user feedback is reflected in the risk management/usability file of existing and future products. The packaging example above illustrates the perfect execution of re-designing a product based on usability-driven feedback. Medical Device companies are expected to do the same with customer feedback.

-RTK