Landel Telecom needed the terminal to be a simple-to-use appliance that lets people access email, Caller ID and information services without using a computer. It had to be equally at home on a kitchen countertop, in a den or small office.
Strategy
We started with Human Factors– the “User Interface”- to develop a product that is as familiar to the user as a telephone, even though the MailBug would have a much greater functionality.
A series of models and mockups helped us make decisions such as display size, button placement and housing color.
Solution
The MailBug becomes a part of the telephone rather than being a separate computer with all its operational and maintenance issues. It is an information appliance, enhancing the telephone with caller ID, a directory and dialer, as well as an easy-to-use “one button” email. We avoided adding anything unnecessary to the basic function such as covers, drawers, or folding screens to increase the unit’s appearance of simplicity, and to keep the price low to encourage consumer acceptance of a new category of communications product.