The end of the academic semester is upon us in the U.S. so we’re backed up with deadlines which is why we’re having Potpourri again for lunch. But tasty potpourri:

First, a curmudgeonly three-part series on things that give too little feedback or have too few buttons:

• I just got an iPod Shuffle which uses a system of taps on an in-line remote to control music navigation. I got used to it (see instructional graphic below) quicker than I thought. But the problem is that when I jog, the remote (which is located near the right ear piece) shorts-out as I sweat. My solution: move the controls (for an extra $25…*shakes fist at apple*).
  

  iPod Shuffle controls are on the earphone wire

  

  Tapstick "case" with integrated controls

• I just purchased a lithium battery pack that can recharge USB devices when I’m away from a power source. It has a single button, a blinking blue light, and a confused user. The button controls which direction power flows and the pattern of lights is supposed to tell you status (full, recharging, discharging, error).


Charger (my finger is covering button)

• My mouse battery died (yes, THAT mouse) because I left it on and it jiggled around in my bag (I thought I turned it off).


I must have missed the feedback that I turned it off!

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, from around the web:

• Don Norman has a new, provocatively titled article on design research (via Touch Usability). (Funny side note; I met Don Norman almost a decade ago and we were complaining about the interface and controls on my digital camera)
• Fellow blog 90percentofeverything is celebrating the year end with the top-posts-of-the-year post.
• Research-Inspired Design has an interesting post on mental models and can openers.