Grundig G6 Image from Etón Corporation
Designers talk about the importance of high tech, low touch. The more technically sophisticated the product becomes, the more there is a need to make it less intimidating. You see this in some modern consumer CD and DVD players that are made to look like retro devices from the 30s, 40s or 50s. “High tech, low touch.”
For my birthday this year my wife bought me a Grundig G6 Aviator radio (the device shown in the graphic on the right of this column.) The radio is very high tech sporting a digital display, DSP technology (DSP stands for Digital Signal Processing,) and digital audio processing. It tunes longwave/AM/FM/shortwave and aircraft frequencies. Although the device fits nicely in the palm of my hand, it manages to pack a rather sensitive shortwave radio.
Years ago I was an avid shortwave listener (SWL.) I collected reception confirmation cards from broadcasters from all over the world. (SWLers call these “QSL cards.”) The cards covered the walls of my basement room (otherwise known as “the shack.”) However, as these things sometimes happen, I lost interest in being an SWL. My 1960s Hallicrafters radio was turned off and began gathering dust in my basement. I still have it, but I really doubt that, after all those years of neglect, it would still operate today. (A puff of smoke is more likely than a radio signal if I dared to power it on.)
Last night for the first time in years, using my new Grundig A6 Aviator, I tuned the shortwave frequencies listening to ham radio operators and international shortwave stations. That's when I found that this high tech device has a very low touch. It looks like a shortwave radio should look and feels oh so familiar to operate. Even the name “Aviator” hearkens back to a low-tech time. No one refers to aircraft pilots today as “aviators.” That’s a term from Amelia Earhart’s days in the 1920s and 1930s.
Although I have broadband in my home and can listen to overseas broadcasts perhaps with greater reliability and better quality over the Internet, I prefer to use the Aviator G6’s shortwave radio. There is magic in that fading sound and static. There is adventure in tuning the dial to see what you can find. This is especially true in such a high tech digital radio. High tech, low touch, you see.
There is a business angle to all of this. (You probably expected that there would be.) When thinking of deploying business IT solutions, we need to pay attention to the low touch factor. The more high tech the device, solution or product, the friendlier it has to become. Apple is a master at this in taking their high tech devices like the iPhone 3G S and putting it in sleek low touch packages. Sophisticated as these devices are, they are not the least technically threatening. The same holds true for Sony with their VAIO Signature Collection netbooks. Want one in Electric Blue or Champaign Gold? No problem. Sony has one just for you.
Sony and Apple get the point. It’s all about high tech, low touch. Your business can also benefit from this. When you’re thinking about high tech, don’t forget low touch.
Comments
Interesting. Nice piece of old time memories.
Thank you, Joanna. I'm glad that you enjoyed the column and enjoyed the nostalgia.
Jeff
I enjoyed reading your article.
I've been a shortwave radio listener for years (in fact I run a site called SWLing.com). I've also been an applications developer in the IT world. With few exceptions, people want power and versatility with simplicity of use. I think the trend in the Linux world of making efficient, streamlined, yet powerful OS distributions makes sense too. This may be what gives them a performance edge in the netbook world.
Jeffrey, I hope you catch some good DX with the G6. It's a nice little radio. To me, the news simply sounds better with a little fading through the ether.
Cheers,
Thomas Witherspoon
I checked out SWLing.com and found it to be a very cool site, Thomas. I spent a few minutes perusing it and suspect that I will be back again.
I particularly enjoyed reading your review of the G6. It's true that the aircraft band was almost an afterthought in the radio's design (Strange for something called an "Aviator.") However, I was pretty amazed to listen with the G6 to aircraft talking to Oakland Center while sitting on the beach in Pacific Grove--especially when the aircraft were ascending over the East Bay headed to the Sierras!
Thanks for your comments and for a helpful and informative SWL web site.
Jeff
I enjoyed your column, found serendipitously via a Google search for Grundig G6 information. The "low touch" concept is a good one.
Feature-rich gizmos with poorly-thought-out user interfaces peeve my pets (or is that pet my peeves?)
My cardinal rule for any human-to-machine interface is: Simple and frequently-used operations ought to be simple, even if achieving that makes complex and infrequently-used operations more complicated.
The logic is, "power users" will have no trouble mastering the whole feature-set, but constantly needing to use extra keystrokes and non-intuitive sequences annoy even "power users" and confound casual users who just want to make a phone call or take a photo.
I think one definition of "low touch" is simply: understand and define the basic "feature set", and then make it as simple to use and logical as possible. That effort reduces the learning curve and makes the device easier to use for 90% of the tasks.
You should try your old Hallicrafters. Whenever I stumble across an old one, they almost always power up, and work just fine.
You should try your old Hallicrafters. Whenever I stumble across an old one, they almost always power up, and work just fine.
Thanks for your comments, Ross. I'm pleased that you enjoyed the column and I agree with your comments. As you said, "Simple and frequently-used operations ought to be simple."
I think the proof of this happened last night. The Grundig G6 has languished in my desk drawer for several weeks. This hasn't been the G6's fault. I've just been distracted by other things I need to do. But last night I felt in the mood to listen to some DX. So out came the G6. I immediately recalled how all the dials, buttons and the keypad shortcuts work. That's a testimony to a simple and obvious design.
Jeff
Thanks for the hint, David. One of these days I may well power up my Hallicrafters SX-110 and see what happens.
I probably will want to change out the electrolytic capacitors first. They don't hold up well over time--especially when they have been stored in damp areas. But I'll bet you're right. It will fire right back up!
Jeff
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!