bounce factor [part ii]

swiped from charlie f's site
taken by charlie g

while hush puppies have trademarked ‘bounce factor’ for their shoes [stupidly, in my opinion, as their shoes, while cushy and supportive, hardly embody bounce or factor], I think bounce factor is an important element in this uber-technological age.

when I say ‘bounce factor’, I’m talking resilience to ‘wear and tear’.


in the first instance, it’s imperative in mobile phones. one of the main reasons I’m still a loyal nokia fan is that my first nokia phone not only bounced, but the way it was constructed meant that when the front, the back, the keypad and the battery splattered on the sidewalk, as it jumped out of my hand, it still worked, perfectly.

I’ve come to expect this from phones, and for anyone who saw my phone (above) in fine working order recently, without a face, keys or cover, will know what I mean. this is vi.ta.l in developing techie gadgets that we own, carry, idolise.

in current climate of preserving resources, reducing environmental impact and aiming for longevity of use (as opposed to unbiodegradable), making a phone that bounces is surely high on the list of priorities.


second instance is the ipod. my original ipod didn’t have much of a bounce factor – it’s screen cracked after a tiny bit of pressure (although I did get it replaced, only to have it stolen). however, my 1st generation ipod shuffle hand-me-down has great bounce factor. the amount of times it has fallen out of my pocket or been flung out of my pocket by my headphones getting caught is too numerous to mention. it has a great feature that if the headphones are ripped out, the track pauses (intuitive design, right there) AND last night, when I was charging it, I accidentally busted it off the side of the computer, but it didn’t break – the main body came away from the USB attachment, but with a bit of clickety clack, it was all back in and played from the original point in the song! how’s that for bounce factor!

it is these little design features that account for the everyday ‘oops’ that endear me to a product, brand, ideal. it means that I, as a human being – faults and all, am being considered during the design of a process and that’s such a nice feeling!