"But whereas the shortcomings of an existing thing may be expressed in terms of a need for improvement, it is really want rather than need that drives the process of technological evolution…Thus we may find food indispensable, but it is not necessary to eat it with a fork(p22). "
"Luxury, rather than necessity, is the mother of invention (p22). "
When I recalled everyday things around me, I couldn’t help pondering how many of them are the need and how many of them are the want. I really like these chunks as I will show my own interesting example of want vs. need.
I have various pans, bowls and plates in my kitchen. To deal with different food, I usually use the corresponding utensils which is so convenient for me when cooking, mixing and serving. Also, I define a very clear function on each pan, bowl and plate (in the name of both health and usability). My husband and some of my friends could not understand why I have such preference in the kitchen. I cannot specifically tell them how many differences there are when want versus need in my kitchen, as I not only prepare for meals everyday but enjoy the cooking process from the feeling of such convenience. By doing that, I don’t have to concern whether the utensil is too big or too small, rather, I have many options to handle different amount of food and furthermore distinguish raw or ready-to-eat food. The funniest thing is I am still not satisfied with the amount of I have had so far. What I did not tell them and what will surprise them is that I still keep an eye, during shopping, on such new usable, elegant but unnecessary things that seemingly complicate the cooking process. If applicable, I will purchase more.
I could also assume that in some other’s kitchens, they probably don’t have so many utensils as those in my kitchen or some might have more than I do. However, it doesn’t matter since it is neither the matter of good or bad, nor won’t it impact any diet in everyone’s daily life. It all depends on individual preference. It is really my want but not my need as I actually can merely use one or two pans to fry eggs, vegetables, even to cook rice etc. It is absolutely unnecessary to have various pans or bowls in my kitchen, but I am so pleasant to possess them. I think it compatible with the users experience goals of interaction design demonstrated by Preece, that is enjoyable and satisfying. I believe I am not unique in this case. It is reasonable that industrial designer invented so many different pans and bowls for girls or housewives, like me, to choose. Likewise, it is understandable why designers tried to design these luxurious cars, such as BMW, Benz, for men to consume, other than just limit to design a plain car with four automatic wheels---no one doubts we can still drive it to replace our two legs.
"In short, the table, like all designed objects, leaves room for improvement (p27). "
"But when aesthetic considerations dominate the design of a new silverware pattern, the individual implements, no matter how striking and well balanced they may look on the table, can often leave much to be desire in their feel and use in the hand (p32). "
“It is suggested that the evolution from pointed knife to two-pronged fork occurred because of the problems of holding food in place with a single pointed device where the food in question was largely free to rotate about the point and thus impeded the cutting action. Introduction of the second prong eliminated this rotation problem. The problem then, however, was that, although good for holding, the fork was of little use in carrying food from the plate to the mouth. And thus emerged three-tined forks, and, even better, by the early eighteenth Century, the four-tined fork we know today.”
