Product Design Challenge - Keeping It Simple



Early Benz



Automobiles and automotive technology have evolved from simple machines that provide a level of mobility to simply move passengers and cargo from point A to point B.  They've become more and more complex. Generally speaking, overly complex products tend to intimidate customers, and the better manufacturers balance maximum functionality with maximum ease of use.  Honda is one of the best at striking that balance.




Horseless Carriage

 

K.I.S.S.,  one of my all time favorite acronyms for "Keep It Simple Stupid"...   Keeping things simple is a challenge to every engineer....as complexity can often correlate to cost, and high cost can have the effect of taking a good feature, worse, a great product out of the market.





2013 Accord Interior

  

As the trend for improved human factors is pervasive in all aspects of product design, including graphical and analog interfaces to that technology, I am curious how our customers feel about the latest advances in our latest Honda Cars and Trucks.  The Civic, The Accord and The Odyssey boast many creative and 'user friendly' technology based features, especially as viewed from  the driver's seat.  To be more specific the New 2013 Honda Accord introduces the following:

 



Honda Lane Watch

Forward Collision Warning

Rearview Camera

Lane Departure Warning

Intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID)

Audio with Touch Screen

ECON Button

ECO Assist

Steering Wheel Mounted controls

Bluetooth HandsFreeLink

HondaLink

 

  

2013 Accord Sedan



 





I'll use the 2013 Accord as an example.  Each of the advanced features that are itemized under the dashboard photo have various interfaces for activation, modification and customization.  And many are layered with profuse heirarchical structures.   How is that simple.  While it's all surprisingly 'INTUITIVE'.  Another one of my favorite idioms is, "anything is simple once you know how to use it."  Good Human Factors design is both Intuitive and Easy to Use.  Honda seems to be coming at that goal from all directions.  And we're bringing all that to you!