Featured Categories

Our Ranges Catergorised

more
Brand Names

Clothing & Gift Catalogues

Workwear & PPE -> (579)

Eco Friendly Gifts -> (919)

Executive Gifts -> (1669)

Mens Gifts -> (1566)

Ladies Gifts -> (1853)

At The Office -> (3866)

Caps & Clothing -> (3985)

Luggage & Bags -> (5543)

Pens & Writing -> (5437)

Folders -> (1588)

Drinkware ->

Homeware & Hotel -> (3062)

Kiff Keyrings -> (1463)

Tea & Coffee Time -> (1247)

Behind The Bar -> (1038)

Clocks & Watches -> (2178)

Computer Accessories -> (862)

Conference Corner -> (22)

Fresh Outdoors -> (1435)

GiveAways & Novelties

Gizmos & Gadgets -> (2287)

Lights & Torches -> (960)

Personal Stuff -> (1976)

Radio's & Sound -> (386)

The Golfing Range -> (733)

Tools & Hardware -> (224)

Travel Things -> (1207)

Kids, Fun & Games -> (1878)

Leather Range -> (165)

Purely Promotional -> (1668)

Smoking Section -> (258)

Sports Section -> (1178)

Stationery Supplies -> (2070)

Sunglasses & Novelty -> (500)

Covid-19 Essential Products ->
(186)

Promotional Display -> (417)

Purely African -> (1253)

Our Brands

more

Sort By Brand Names

more

Sort By:

more
Product Colour ->

Product Material ->

Receipients Personality ->

Season ->

Specific Occasion -> (847)

Sort By Price

more

Specify own range

to

Predefined ranges

Under R1.00
From R1.00 to R5.00
From R5.00 to R25.00
From R25.00 to R50.00
From R50.00 to R100.00
From R100.00 to R250.00
From R250.00 to R500.00
From R500.00 to R1,000.00
From R1,000.00 to R1,500.00
From R1,500.00 to R2,500.00
R2,500.00 and above

Sort by Personality

more

Language Selector

Currency Selector

Gadgets increase, but So do manuals by Perkal

"The tendency now is for all of them to implode into one electronic Swiss Army knife. But how usable are they, what is their future, and how could they be better?

Only decades ago, portable radios were cutting-edge. The integrated circuit was the breakthrough in miniaturization. Before long, the Palm Pilot appeared, which fit in a shirt pocket and kept track of phone numbers, addresses and notes.

I got one and hated it. The problem wasn't with Palm, but with the whole idea.

Technology was making the Palm and its imitators more and more powerful, but wasn't making my fingers any smaller. I found myself peering intently at the thing, the screen of which was too small, and poking at it with the little stylus thingy that I kept losing.

To take notes, I either used the handwriting-recognition software, which almost worked sometimes, or stabbed at the virtual keyboard with the little stylus thingy. A dime notebook and a ball-point pen worked better.

The hard part isn't making the gadget powerful, but making it usable by sausage-fingered humans. And if you can't make it pleasant to use by normal people, you limit yourself to the geek market.

The aggregate complexity of gadgets is becoming excessive. A PDA these days comes with a thick manual. Sure, I can study it and learn the 79 functions and what all the inscrutable little icons mean.

Throw in an IPod, a digital camera with a 150-page manual (Canon S400), a scientific calculator with multiple layers of menus and a 230-page manual (Texas Instruments TI-89), and so on and - how many folk actually do it? Collectively, they become burdensome, except for geeks, who love controllable complexity.

Those who design one gadget forget that the hapless user has to deal with eight other gadgets, too. And there is a tendency to add features no one really wants just because it is possible to do so. Has anybody, ever, anywhere, actually used a lap timer on a digital watch? More and more devices are being added to pocket gadgets. Examples abound.

According to Wired, ""Handset makers like Nokia, Siemens and Sony Ericsson have introduced so-called smartphones that can load computer-like applications, while also offering an organizer, music player, camera and photo album, as well as an e-mailing device.""

This is happening because a PDA is essentially a lot of computer memory with things stuck on it, like lenses (presto, a camera) or headphone jacks (presto, a music player). All of this increases complexity and thickens the manual.

The next addition to the line of pocket dinguses is the ""route-finder."" This uses the military's Global Positioning System satellite signals to let your telephone know exactly where it is on the face of the earth. The telephone also has map software. You tell it where you want to go and a pleasant female voice tells you when to turn onto which road.

Before long I have no doubt that it also will be a video camera, e-mail terminal, Web browser, toaster oven and riding mower, all in your pocket.

It's really cute, but does it come with a donkey to carry the manuals?"

This article was published on Sunday 17 December, 2006.

Product Search Tool

 
Use a keyword or product code to find the appropriate product.
Advanced Search
Search Help [?]

Members Login

Your Email Address
Your Password

Log in is done securely
Not yet a Member? Join now
Forgot password? Click here

Why Choose Perkal?

70000+ products from over 300 suppliers all over the world.

No Minimum order requirements on 99% of our range

Extremely Competitive Pricing We will beat any written quote!

Every Product is  Guaranteed

Our Site is 100% Safe & Secure. We use 128 bit encryption to secure our site

Discounted Pricing for Corporate and Trade Clients

We offer Branding on every product with a quick turnaround time

Served over 20000 happy customers to date

Unparalleled Customer Service

We can source almost any product from our China Office - subject to min orders

Current Bestsellers

more
Wooden Pencil
01. Wooden Pencil
R0.94

Bottle opener Keyring - Min Order 100 units
02. Bottle opener Keyring - Min Order 100 units
R4.50

Activate Mints
03. Activate Mints
R3.70

Key Finder - Whistle Keyring
04. Key Finder - Whistle Keyring
R39.80

Pop-It Bottle Opener Keyring
05. Pop-It Bottle Opener Keyring
R3.78

Penflex Ballpoint Clear Meduim Black 50 - Min orders apply, plea
06. Penflex Ballpoint Clear Meduim Black 50 - Min orders apply, plea
R1.37

Pencil with Erazer
07. Pencil with Erazer
R0.95

Executive Talking Clock-Silver

08. Executive Talking Clock-Silver
R69.00

VUVUZELA
09. VUVUZELA
R29.95

Fiesta Pen - Min Order 100 units
10. Fiesta Pen - Min Order 100 units
R3.37

Product Of The Week

Solar Torch Key Ring: 3 LED - Eco-friendly
Solar Torch Key Ring: 3 LED - Eco-friendly
Price  R49.99  
Buy Now

Featured Products

more
Golfer Umbrella
Golfer Umbrella
 R111.39 

News & Articles

New Articles (1)
All Articles (623)
Corporate Gift Articles (401)
Corporate Gift Ideas (11)
Corporate Gifts - Branding (6)
Gadget Articles (60)
Gifts in The Press (75)
Promotional Clothing Articles (38)
Webpage News (18)
General News (37)

Search Articles Text

Ads

Latest products

more
Site Premium Polycotton Workwear Jacket - Reflective Arms & Back
Site Premium Polycotton Workwear Jacket - Reflective Arms & Back

Our Price: R295.98

Follow Perkal

Follow Me on Linkedin Follow Me on Pinterest