Usability (Ease of use)
The functionality of the wheel on the iPod classic can be learned easily with practice. The bad design of the wheel is that with one touch the cover flows go too fast and miss the album the user wants to listen to. At first, I had to go back and forth to go the correct album. But as my level of experience increased, I could confidently choose the correct album or song. Whereas the good design is that the wheel can be used to play, go to next track, previous track, menu and scroll around to allow faster searching. There is a hold button on top side of the iPod which can be used to unlock or lock the screen so the music will not play when the user is in an important meeting or lecture when it is locked and stopped. There is a ear plug socket which can be used to use the media on the iPod or put media on to tv.
The iPod can be recharged with usb ports to the computer or device with usb compatibility such as hifi and dock station (no need for usb). When the iPod is charged to the computer or laptop, the user can store and save media and work files onto the iPod. I think the charging of the iPod classic is a good design because it reaches the users need when they are rushing and want the iPod to be fully charged when they leave. Otherwise, they could charge on the computer without being rushed. This design helps the user when they don’t have a computer.
Ease of use (to different types of users)
IT professionals and IT literate users will know all about the iPod classic and the functions. These type of users research on and use similar objects in their job or in their leisure. The iPod in itself is a computer where data is processed and outputted onto the screen.
Beginner or non IT literate users will not have the same approach to the IT professionals when they need to learn about the iPod. They will not know about user interfaces or a computer’s functionality.
Young children will be literate with the iPod as their minds are fast thinking than the elder generations. When they see the object, they will want to experiment with it, without thinking about it and I feel they can get familiar with the object in more time than the elders.
