Why Washing Machine Interface Have Become More Complex - Paper Example

The Washing machine has been one of the most important home appliances of the 21st Century. It is important to note that in the years since the first washing machine, the design of the machine has gotten lighter and more efficient to use but as a complementary or almost contradictory note become harder to use. In London for instance, there are statistics that indicate 58% of British men cannot operate washing machines. In a world where traditional family settings continue to diminish, there are significant pockets of persons whose lives embrace single parenthood and even non-relational lifestyles. It may be important to look at the causative determinants that inspired the building of more complex washing machine interfaces.

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Causative influences for the continued complexity in washing machine interface

Some of the causative factors of this continued complexity include increased functionality in washing machines. Initially, the washing was bulky and had to be manually operated for any washing to be done. This design made it only logical to implement less functionality in the machines. However, with the entry of the electric washing machine, there were clear indications that saw the continued implementation of new design features and functions that earlier models lacked. This functionality, of course, prompted more complex interface from which people lack clarity in how to use washing machines. This phenomenon inspires fewer people from buying modern washing machines.

The reaction of the users on modern washing machines.

As the washing machine advanced in its functionality and complexity of the interface, there have been several user reactions and trends that warrant the improvement of the entire interface of washing machines. One of the most interesting facts is that over the course of the advancement of washing machines, the general public has had a more difficult time operating these devices. In Britain, 58% of men and 25% of women found a lot of trouble operating the modern washing machine. This difficulty has fostered the continued development of a negative attitude towards the use of washing machines. Looking at the age brackets, 40% of persons between the ages of 16 and 24 did not like doing laundry due to the complexity of using washing machines. The reactions to the continued advancement of the washing machine have inspired manufacturers to improve on the interface and by extension the user experience.

Best interface development Approaches.

For the usability of any interface on an automatic machine to be both uses full and present the optimal functionality of the machine, there are several important considerations that developers and designers need to look at. Machine intelligence is one of the primary consideration for interface design. As users input a different instruction to a machine, they expect some feedback to relay the status of their initial request. Machines should be able to relay information in a manner that inspires the user to learn what the machine can do as it presents the apparent intention to explain its behavior. Intentional stance is a criterion that can pose as a measure of machine intelligence.

Modern technology has incorporated scripted user interfaces where machine seems to follow a set of logical processes and infer from information from users to make suggestions and even propose solutions to users. While completely incorporating artificial intelligent systems to the machine seems bizarre, there are specific processes that inspire machine learning and take advantage of human cognitive capabilities. Prompts such as, Will you use warm water or cold water? can make for a more interactive user experience and by far an easier platform from which the use of washing machines can be understood.

A second competency in the design of the machine interface is the use of an agent. Modern technology has come up with an intelligent system called agents that offer some of the mot personalized and introspective experiences of human-computer interaction. Agents have the capacity to prompt users for potential actions that they may want to make, can tell the stages in washing processes and even invoke certain actions preempted by the previous user prompts. The operation of a washing machine in this sense automates pre-determined and pre-analyzed user instruction and adjusts the protocol followed as per the current user. It is perhaps one of the more intelligent technological feats in this matrix.

Incorporation of a better and more customer sensitive interface can improve the use and appreciation of washing machines. Some of the best practices that companies like Google are implementing on their mobile devices are an example of the value of the methodological and thorough use of interface design to invoke concepts like recognition rather than recall.' Technologically, companies that have improved the value of natural language have significantly improved the ease with which persons interact with machines of all kinds. Direct manipulation interfaces, for instance, present some of the most introspective approaches towards machine instruction. The graphical or textual representations of user inputs and commands often represent sets of objects that are executed in the system within the machine.

Some of the concepts that inadvertently make the operation of a machine ease without limiting the capabilities of its functionalities are delegation. Different agents are given specific tasks that they are to execute. This delegation often presents risks such as poor interpretation of the user demands and more even critical errors in entire process execution. The delegation, however, fosters a collaborative instructional approach towards the entire process of a company. It is important to note that with every passing instruction the process is advanced or an error is created. Collaborative approaches towards delegation protocols prompt preceding agents of the deliverables for each object set. The outputs that are relayed not only take instruction from the user but also follow a predestined instruction design. This instruction design is guided by the functions of the machine.

To ensure that the machine does not implement instructions that have not been initiated by the users, good user interfaces often remain still unless the users initiate an interaction. Conventional interfaces take advantage of user input to initiate processes. A user presses the power button and the machine boots loading all necessary protocol and prepares for any instruction from the users. The use of agents prompts users of the potential options that they may need and then wait for the second set of instructions. This interactive and collaborative instructional design makes for some of the most seamless use of any machine. It is the technology on which the development of better and more user-friendly user interfaces can be applied.

Implementation of advisory agents and assisting protocol also makes for important process design. The user is able to make errors and correct these errors through a set of pre-determined correctional initiatives. Advisory agents also make sure that the interaction of users I not without instruction from the machine. The potential for the use of such an instructional design ensures that the machine will prompt and invoke mechanisms for correction of the mistakes that the users may have made.

Additional elements of that can be used in the improvement of the machine use include. Personalization and user modeling. These attributes allow users to influence the protocol that the machine had been initially incorporated. By placing functions that allow the users to change the priority functions and protocols can also be incorporated in the interface. This makes for a more personalized interaction with the user. Additionally, it allows the machine to mirror the user interaction approach implicitly. This also offers an important competency for the continued learning of machine functions and user options.

Preferred Interface for Washing Machines.

Looking at the different approaches that companies are employing in the design of the washing machine, there are several significant steps that need to be understood. The primary goal is to incorporate an interface that is not dependent on the user knowledge but acknowledges their cognitive capacities. Designing an interactive user interface will prompt both user and machine learning. In doing so, the washing machine and its functionalities will be known by the users. Incorporation of different instruction agents also will significantly improve the outlook of the users as the user the device. Agent not only improves the usability but have mechanisms that can model user commands and priority functions. The preferred user interface will advance personal understanding of all machine competencies in through such an approach.