Areas of concern when dealing with electronic product design Introduction To accomplish successful electronic product design, a good amount of research needs to be done in the following areas; I. Working prototype II. Software III. Operation manual(s) IV. Various computer systems and compatibility issues V. Country standards and regulations V1. Overall electronics research This article will cover each area and give examples of along with other details. Ipod and Itunes Designing or re-designing electronic products requires knowledge of electronics in general, specific electronics on the market, country regulations and in some cases computer software. I will use the Ipod by Apple as an example to illustrate this point. Not only is the Ipod an electronic product, it also requires a computer and software to function along with other electronic items. The process of design not only dealt with functionality and size but also compatibility issues that are associated with computer operating systems. Another area is the USB cord that connects the Ipod to the computer. Let's recap for just a moment. Here you have the Ipod itself, Itunes software which powers it as well as the unique Ipod connection cord. The designer would have to create a product manual for the Ipod as well as the Itunes application. This manual would explain how each works and how they function in relationship to one another. Parts would have to be designed to work with not only Apple computers, but Microsoft computers as well. Since each computer company uses different operating systems, instructions for each particular brand would need to be included as well. Following international electronic guidelines and language barriers in regards to electronic designs can't be overlooked. Not all products can be sold in all areas and if the product isn't compatible with existing technology it won't be sold at all. This is where the amount of research done on the electronics market will become vital. If a new product is designed with a memory card that is only available with the electronic device in question, the chances of it becoming a widely used program may be reduced. However, if a product uses a standard memory card that many people already use and are familiar with, then this would be better. From this perspective a memory card replacement could be substituted with another someone may already have, instead of a person having to go out and buy one that only works for that particular electronic device. This is a complaint that many have with the Ipod connection cord. Instead of Apple using the standard USB cord, you have to go and buy a special one that works solely with the Ipod. The Ipod was intentionally designed this way which means more profits for Apple down the line. More electronic design issues Cost and manufacturing along with time are also concerns that must be taken into consideration. Here are just a few questions you should ask yourself before you begin; Can a product be completed in the allotted time given with all of the necessary research being done first? Does it make sense from a financial standpoint to go through with the project? When and if the product hits the market, will it already be obsolete? In conclusion, electronic product design should be left up to the experts who are familiar with the challenges and concerns of electronic product designing.
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