In his July 27, 2005 Tech Q & A column, “Trend toward small, ‘cute’ is unlikely to end,” Minneapolis Star Tribune technology editor Steve Alexander addressed readers’ concerns about the usability challenges found with some consumer electronics, and cited miniaturization as one of the culprits.

A long list
One reader wrote that his new cell phone, half the size of his old one, “looks cute, but I get poorer service in remote areas because there's no pull-up antenna, just a stub.” He further complained, “With the microphone being somewhat closer to the speaker, I get bad acoustic feedback. The display is smaller, and the buttons are much closer together."

Another Tech Q & A reader said that he’s “waiting for a simplified cell phone that is ergonomically friendly for someone with large hands,” then asked Alexander if such a thing is really ‘technologically feasible.’

Very good question, indeed
As cell phone demand and use increases, can consumers expect ergonomic and usability concerns to be addressed by the designers and manufacturers of these products?

Alexander believes “ergonomically friendly” cell phones are technologically feasible, but not likely.

Size (still) matters
The miniaturization trend in consumer electronics – especially cell phone design – shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, it’s likely to gain momentum.

“There's more money to be made selling complicated cell phones that squeeze a lot into a little space,” says Alexander.

“We're likely to get more multifunction "smart phones" costing hundreds of dollars. And while tinier phones may be harder to use, that isn't expected to hurt sales. Cell phones are expected to become the most common consumer electronics device by 2009, when 1 billion will be sold annually.”

Learn more: For an in depth look at ergonomic and usability issues facing consumers today, read our recent series on product design, and the first of a two part series on cell phones, "Are Cell Phones Dangerous? It's Still An Open Question," by Jennifer Anderson, in The Ergonomics Report™ ergonomicsreport.com

Tell us what you think: Share your ideas and solutions on the ergonomic and usability issues relating to miniaturization of consumer electronics in Ergoweb’s daily Forum forum.ergoweb.com

Sources: Minneapolis Star Tribune, Steve Alexander, The Ergonomics Report™, Ergonomics Today™