STC Usability SIG Newsletter
Usability Interface

Usability of My Digital Camera

By David Dick, Editor

Allan Cooper is correct when he describes in Inmates Are Running the Asylum how a product changes when computer technology is applied. One example is the camera. Digital cameras are similar to non-digital cameras except for the way they capture an image—actually; it’s a camera with computer technology.

The following are my observations of how a non-digital camera compares to a digital camera:

• The cost for a good non-digital camera starts at $40 and $10 for a disposal camera.

The cost for a good digital camera starts at $200 (and up) for a digital camera.

• The instruction guide for a non-digital camera can be described on two pages.

The instruction guide for digital camera is only limited to the number of gadgets, features and functions, which can be explained on hundreds of pages. To save on publication costs, the guide is published as a PDF on CD-ROM—but you need a PC to read it.

• It’s easy to have non-digital camera film developed: take the film to a photo development center.

With a digital camera, images are downloaded to a PC, opened with image editing software, and printed on a printer.

• Film for a non-digital camera costs around $5. Picture quality is dependent on the film and shutter speed.

A digital camera has an image sensor, which has millions of pixels. Picture quality is proportional to pixels. The number of pixels is proportional to the cost of the camera. How many mega-million pixels are enough to take a ‘good’ picture?

• With a non-digital camera, you never know the quality of the pictures taken until the film is developed.

A common feature of digital cameras is the LCD screen, which displays pictures taken—unwanted pictures are easily deleted.

• With a non-digital camera, the pictures aren’t lost if the batteries expire or removed.

If the digital camera doesn’t have flash memory, the pictures are lost if the batteries expire or removed.

All things considered, the useful features of digital cameras are not enticing enough to trade for the simplicity of the non-digital design that meets the fundamental goals of the majority of users. As for me, I have learned my lesson with digital cameras. I will keep my user-friendly, old fashion, but reliable non-digital camera.