A growing focus on product usability is creating demand for usability specialists and prompting companies of all kinds to hire developers and designers who are well versed in this way of thinking. This book takes a look at the unique usability issues surround information appliances and other interactive consumer products.
This book covers the state of the art of energy efficiency in household appliances and lighting which can be used now and in the near future to achieve significant and cost-effective energy savings. Recent developments in advanced appliance and lighting technologies by some of the largest manufacturers are also presented. Although energy-efficient household appliances and lighting technologies can save a huge amount of electricity, they still have not been widely adopted. The barriers which can hinder the adoption of those technologies are presented. Policies and programmes to promote the large-scale penetration of energy-efficient technologies and the market transformation are featured in the book, describing the experiences gained in different parts of the world. This extensive coverage includes contributions from relevant institutions in the European Union, North America, Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Ben Nicholson's work reflects the concerns of a generation educated and influenced by Daniel Libeskind and John Hejduk but establishes a highly individual search for rigor, precision, and craftsmanship in architecture. Here he analyzes the structure and form of everyday objects such as appliances and bread tags to construct the theoretical and physical framework for an Appliance House, a shelter from Sub-Urban life, a receptacle for all the forgotten objects of society. This book brings together numerous sketches, pencil drawings, color collages, and models that provide a detailed account of this unique fouryear project. Ben Nicholson is Studio Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He completed Appliance House as a Fellow of the Chicago Institute for Architecture and Urbanism.
This simple and manageable guide to user interface design is written for the professional in industry working on product development and the decision process. It is directed not only to the human factors specialists, but also to technicians, designers, marketing and product managers and students. The book presents guidelines for user interface d
The transformative effect of technological change on households and culture, seen from a macroeconomic perspective through simple economic models. In Evolving Households, Jeremy Greenwood argues that technological progress has had as significant an effect on households as it had on industry. Taking a macroeconomic perspective, Greenwood develops simple economic models to study such phenomena as the rise in married female labor force participation, changes in fertility rates, the decline in marriage, and increased longevity. These trends represent a dramatic transformation in everyday life, and they were made possible by advancements in technology. Greenwood also addresses how technological progress can cause social change. Greenwood shows, for example, how electricity and labor-saving appliances freed women from full-time household drudgery and enabled them to enter the labor market. He explains that fertility dropped when higher wages increased the opportunity cost of having children; he attributes the post–World War II baby boom to a combination of labor-saving household technology and advances in obstetrics and pediatrics. Marriage rates declined when single households became more economically feasible; people could be more discriminating in their choice of a mate. Technological progress also affects social and cultural norms. Innovation in contraception ushered in a sexual revolution. Labor-saving technological progress at home, together with mechanization in industry that led to an increase in the value of brain relative to brawn for jobs, fostered the advancement of women's rights in the workplace. Finally, Greenwood attributes increased longevity to advances in medical technology and rising living standards, and he examines healthcare spending, the development of new drugs, and the growing portion of life now spent in retirement.
"Understand what makes your equipment tick; do simple repairs yourself; follow quick-and-easy instructions; learn how to get reliable professional repairs when you need it--and avoid ripoffs"--Cover.
Use the Latest Tools and Techniques to Troubleshoot and Repair Major Appliances, Microwaves, and Room Air Conditioners! Now covering both gas and electric appliances, the updated second edition of Troubleshooting and Repairing Major Appliances offers you a complete guide to the latest tools, techniques, and parts for troubleshooting and repairing any appliance. Packed with over 200 illustrations, the book includes step-by-step procedures for testing and replacing parts... instructions for reading wiring diagrams... charts with troubleshooting solutions... advice on using tools and test meters... safety techniques... and more. The second edition of Troubleshooting and Repairing Major Appliances features: Expert coverage of major appliances Cutting-edge guidance on appliance operation, testing and repairing, wiring, preventive maintenance, and tools and test meters New to this edition: information on both gas and electric appliances; 10 entirely new chapters; new illustrations throughout Inside This Updated Troubleshooting and Repair Manual • Fundamentals of Service: Selection, Purchase, and Installation of Appliances and Air Conditioners • Safety Precautions • Tools for Installation and Repair • Basic Techniques • Fundamentals of Electric, Electronic, and Gas Appliances, and Room Air Conditioners: Electricity • Electronics • Gas • Principles of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration • Electric, Electronic, and Gas Appliance Parts • Appliance Service, Installation, and Preventive Maintenance Procedures: Dishwashers • Garbage Disposers • Electric and Gas Water Heaters • Washers • Electric and Gas Dryers • Electric and Gas Ranges/Ovens • Microwave Ovens • Refrigerators and Freezers • Ice Makers • Room Air Conditioners
This is a study of the material life of information and its devices; of electronic waste in its physical and electronic incarnations; a cultural and material mapping of the spaces where electronics in the form of both hardware and information accumulate, break down, or are stowed away. Where other studies have addressed "digital" technology through a focus on its immateriality or virtual qualities, Gabrys traces the material, spatial, cultural and political infrastructures that enable the emergence and dissolution of these technologies. In the course of her book, she explores five interrelated "spaces" where electronics fall apart: from Silicon Valley to Nasdaq, from containers bound for China to museums and archives that preserve obsolete electronics as cultural artifacts, to the landfill as material repository. Digital Rubbish: A Natural History of Electronics describes the materiality of electronics from a unique perspective, examining the multiple forms of waste that electronics create as evidence of the resources, labor, and imaginaries that are bundled into these machines. Ranging across studies of media and technology, as well as environments, geography, and design, Jennifer Gabrys draws together the far-reaching material and cultural processes that enable the making and breaking of these technologies.
Bring your electronic inventions to life! "This full-color book is impressive...there are some really fun projects!" -GeekDad, Wired.com Who needs an electrical engineering degree? This intuitive guide shows how to wire, disassemble, tweak, and re-purpose everyday devices quickly and easily. Packed with full-color illustrations, photos, and diagrams, Hacking Electronics teaches by doing--each topic features fun, easy-to-follow projects. Discover how to hack sensors, accelerometers, remote controllers, ultrasonic rangefinders, motors, stereo equipment, microphones, and FM transmitters. The final chapter contains useful information on getting the most out of cheap or free bench and software tools. Safely solder, join wires, and connect switches Identify components and read schematic diagrams Understand the how and why of electronics theory Work with transistors, LEDs, and laser diode modules Power your devices with a/c supplies, batteries, or solar panels Get up and running on Arduino boards and pre-made modules Use sensors to detect everything from noxious gas to acceleration Build and modify audio amps, microphones, and transmitters Fix gadgets and scavenge useful parts from dead equipment