Assignment 1: Products and Emotion

Product: USB (thumb drive/ memory stick)
Behavioral

Image from: Google

Imation Swivel Pro Flash Drive, 1GB, S$20.98

Behavioral:
This thumb drive is purely practical and functional. It is easy to use, and because of its size, it is able to fit into all USB slots. (Seriously. I once had a Kingston thumb drive which is gigantic and it can't fit into certain disc reader because of its body hindering the reader tip to be slot properly into the reader slot.) In addition, it is compatible to all operating system. It also has a USB cap that is attached to the drive itself, and thus the cap wouldn't get lost.

Visceral:
Other than that, I would say that the thumb drive is a common average performer but is culturally acceptable. No one would think that the owner is a geek if he/she carries it. It is absolutely not attractive nor does it helps its owner distinguish himself/herself from the others.

Reflective:
I guess the user experience for this product, if were to describe it in levels, it would be of the lowest. As mentioned by Donald Norman, products are multi-dimensional. Also, in the attempt to define user experience, Jesper Jensen brought up several studies that describe user experience as a component of many things - usability, branding, valuable, context etc. As such, this product has only fulfilled one element of user experience i.e. usability/functionality. In addition, if were to argue using Maslow's theory, it only appeal to the most basic physiological needs.


Visceral

Image from: CNet

Philips Swarovski Lock In USB Memory Key, 1GB, S$250

Behavioral:
How on earth do I insert this drive into the reader? Probably there is a removable cap somewhere. But one look at it, it seems like an expensive keychain more than a usable thumb drive. Whatever the case, this thumb drive only comes in 1GB unlike the imation where it goes up too 8GB. Also, given the body size of the thumb drive, can it really fit properly into the reader slot? I doubt so.

Visceral:
However, given its "blinky" Swarovski crystal and unique lock design (for a thumb drive), it appears attractive. A very cool and elegant design.

Reflective:
Using Maslow's theory, this product will fulfill to esteem needs of a person especially to the Swarovski collectors who would have the strong desire to have it. As mentioned by the reviewer from Cnet, Juniper Foo, such gadgets are more for fashion wear than a tech gear. As such, the branded crystals has make the product has some self-image and show off value.


Reflective

Image from: miiSTOR

SanDisk Ice - a platinum thumb drive with 456 white diamonds (5.19ct) that comes with a platinum chain; Reading speed: 15mb, Writing speed: 9mb; S$51,000.

Behavioral:
Although it is backward compatible to USB 1.1 port, and to both windows and mac operating systems, users could barely save anything inside the thumb drive given its pathetic and miserable memory space. It is evidently not produced for the sake of being usable or functional. (May be it is enough for the RICH to store their miserable documents.)

Visceral:
It is sleek, timeless, elegant, expressive and attractive. It is definitely an eye turner if one really uses it or wear it around the neck.

Reflective:
With its exorbitant price and showy aesthetics, this product would definitely fulfill the esteem needs and arguably the self-actualization needs of its users. It reflects one's status symbol, style and evoke a strong sense of self-image.

However, I guess the reflective value of an item also depends very much on the culture, environment, one's context and the marketing of the product. Supposing in a common middle class environment where everyone carries a normal looking thumb drive and you come flashing in with the USB. People will talk about it and want to see it. If you are known to be rich and to be a spendthrift, people will assume it is real and the product will directly reflect your status. However, if you are not known to be so, people will think it is fake and at the most, attracted to the thumb drive because it is different from the normal plain designs. It won't do much self-reflection unless the thumb drive is being marketed and everyone knows about it. Additionally, if from the upper class, it will reinforce your status and give you a chance to compare with others of the same social status.


Others: Just for fun!


Image from: Google