milee
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Post by milee on Sept 10, 2014 9:00:41 GMT -5
Companies that are dominated by one gender, race, background or other commonality can struggle to create products that appeal to people of other groups simply because they don't perceive the same issues or have similar priorities. Two industries that seem to really struggle with this in regards to not having large numbers of women involved in the design process are the automobile and the computing/electronics industry. Both industries are primarily staffed by men but are now aware enough of the gaps that they're not making the same dumb mistakes made in the past (such as when all women who went to buy a car were first shown the vanity mirror), but to me it's still obvious that the main designers are men and that their input from women comes from focus groups or other after-the-fact type reaction rather than having women integrally involved in designing things.
Examples:
New iPhone mobile wallet/pay feature - Yes, it sounds very interesting to wave the phone next to the register rather than swiping a card and the idea of making payment quick and easy is great. But McDonald's, Disney and Macy's are not the places where I really get crazy about standing in line and need that quick pay feature. If Apple had talked to any woman (or the men that actually shop for groceries, not their employees who eat thee meals a day at Apple HQ), they'd know that the place we most need this technology is the GROCERY STORE. If Apple could make grocery lines any less painful, get rid of the people laboriously writing out checks or fumbling with their PINs for their debit card, or helping me from having to have to dig out my wallet when I'm wrestling with a full cart of groceries and two kids, that would be compelling. Saving 10 seconds at a restaurant? Meh, interesting but not a must have feature yet.
There is no good place to put my purse in the car. Seriously, car manufacturers. I am not a girly girl and I usually carry a basic small bag from Target or the thrift store, so it's not like I have a $2000 bag that needs special treatment. But I hate putting it on the floor where there may be sand or it might get stepped on and if there are others in the car filling the seats, I can't put it on a seat. I drive a honking big car - ML350 - that's big enough to comfortable haul 5 adults plus their luggage on a road trip plus tow 5500 pounds, but there's no nice place to put my purse? Almost every woman carries one of these things - why hasn't a single manufacturer come up with a reasonable pocket in the door, shelf, or compartment that will hold a purse? It would be a fairly simple design change compared to the huge technological advances the car manufacturers seem so focused on, yet it would make 50% of the drivers really happy.
What other design or product offering changes can you think of that would be better if women were involved in the design process?
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Sept 10, 2014 9:08:51 GMT -5
"What other design or product offering changes can you think of that would be better if women were involved in the design process?"
A mamogram.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 10, 2014 9:18:09 GMT -5
"What other design or product offering changes can you think of that would be better if women were involved in the design process?"
A mamogram. No joke. Tests like a mammogram and colposcopy (where they take a biopsy of questionable tissue on your cervix by gouging out a sample with no anesthesia) definitely show that most of the tests were developed by people without the body parts that are being worked on. I have no idea what exactly it is, but I can guarantee that the test for testicular cancer does not involve either unanesthesized biopsy or smashing the testicles between glass panes.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Sept 10, 2014 9:23:23 GMT -5
"What other design or product offering changes can you think of that would be better if women were involved in the design process?"
A mamogram. No joke. Tests like a mammogram and colposcopy (where they take a biopsy of questionable tissue on your cervix by gouging out a sample with no anesthesia) definitely show that most of the tests were developed by people without the body parts that are being worked on. I have no idea what exactly it is, but I can guarantee that the test for testicular cancer does not involve either unanesthesized biopsy or smashing the testicles between glass panes. You are thinking of the PSA test for prostate cancer. And it is a regular plain old blood test. and I have to say I think the man who came up with the PAP smear test was a great person. He had lost a loved one, IICR correctly, and made it his life's mission to cure cervical cancer and he did a pretty good job i think. My question is though what that test would have looked like if a woman had been the one to take on this mission. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't involve stirrups.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Sept 10, 2014 9:27:23 GMT -5
Most cars I've driven in do have a door pocket. I guess it just depends on how big your purse is. There's also usually some other compartments in the front of a car, like in between the seats or below the radio console.
And then there's always the glove box....
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 10, 2014 9:34:03 GMT -5
Most cars I've driven in do have a door pocket. I guess it just depends on how big your purse is. There's also usually some other compartments in the front of a car, like in between the seats or below the radio console.
And then there's always the glove box.... OK, but this is exactly what I'm talking about. You obviously don't carry a purse that you've tried to fit into the door pockets or the consoles. Just like all the male engineers who say - there's a pocket and a console, that should work! - you don't actually use the thing so don't know that it doesn't work.
There is a door pocket (and it's not tiny, it holds my Maglite and a bunch of other things) and a center console. And again, it's a big luxury car, so neither of those things are small or poorly done, but they also aren't the right size or shape to hold most purses. Right now, I have a very simple purse that holds my wallet, cell phone, sunblock and some pens - which is less than most women carry - and that's too much to fit in either the door pocket or the console.
As for the glove box, every car is different, but for some reason the glove box is tiny on this thing. Barely fits the car's paperwork. Even the owner's manual is too large to go in the glove box.
And again, I have a small, simple purse. The type car I have is often driven by women with big, expensive purses, so it's not like I'm asking something that wouldn't be used by others.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Sept 10, 2014 9:45:20 GMT -5
Most cars I've driven in do have a door pocket. I guess it just depends on how big your purse is. There's also usually some other compartments in the front of a car, like in between the seats or below the radio console.
And then there's always the glove box.... If you are talking about the thing I think you are talking about it is meant to put the mail in while you are pulling in the driveway not hold anything as wide as a wallet let alone a purse. I have an ashtray floating around in my car and it doesn't fit in either the side door pocket or the glove compartment. And it is maybe 2.5 inches around. And I have a big SUV, y glove compartment can't hold my owners manual and all my paperwork from DMV and insurance. The thing in the middle is tall enough but has weird things sticking up and in that make it almost unusable for anything other than a few quarters and random bits of paper. I'm sure they were more usuable years ago when cars were bigger and more square. Now they still call the glove compartment a glove compartment but it is a weird triangular shaped space that isn't useful for anything other than checking the box on the sales brochure.
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Sept 10, 2014 9:46:13 GMT -5
Most cars I've driven in do have a door pocket. I guess it just depends on how big your purse is. There's also usually some other compartments in the front of a car, like in between the seats or below the radio console.
And then there's always the glove box.... My DH's car is a compact car, 4 door and the door pocket might be big enough for a small umbrella. It's also designed to hold a water bottle, but not a very big one. That's useless for a purse. His glove compartment might hold milee's small purse but wouldn't hold mine, which is bigger but not as big as some. Besides, there are other things IN the glove compartment. When I drive DH's car, I have nowhere as a driver to put my purse, except a passenger seat. Unless, of course, there are passengers. At least in my minivan there's a gap between the front seats that it can sit in. On the floor, which sucks but it's better than the car. And if I had more options on the van, that space might have been filled with some sort of console. <<sigh>>
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Sept 10, 2014 9:50:16 GMT -5
Most cars I've driven in do have a door pocket. I guess it just depends on how big your purse is. There's also usually some other compartments in the front of a car, like in between the seats or below the radio console.
And then there's always the glove box.... That door pocket holds maps. Most purses are 2-3x wider, and quite frankly, I'm not sure I'd put my purse where it could easily get snagged and fall out. Glove compartment? Surely you jest! My purse usually goes onto the front passenger's seat unless there's someone sitting there. Then I put it on the seat behind the driver's seat.
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justme
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Post by justme on Sept 10, 2014 9:50:19 GMT -5
This is more of an Apple fail. Other non-Apple phones have had Isis Wallet (now changing their name to SoftCard because duh ) for at least two years. You can use it anywhere they have the reader to do it (and I've seen it a grocery stores, drug stores, etc). Apparently it also has a section where you can get discounts for stores to use with it (the example on their website is $10 off $50 at a grocery store). So, it seems it's just Apple that isn't thinking broadly enough. Which is no surprise because all of Apple's "new" features lately aren't really new. Like Samsung phones have had a watch for well over a year now.
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Sept 10, 2014 9:51:24 GMT -5
My car's center console is deep enough to hold a laptop. However, it's too narrow for many purses, plus it's where I store CDs, a flashlight, and a few other odds and ends. I could probably put my squishy purse in there, but then would have no place for CDs.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Sept 10, 2014 10:19:59 GMT -5
Hooks in public bathrooms to hold my purse and/or coat. Ever try to keep an eye on your purse, your coat, your toddlers' coats while you're trying to wash hands and not impede the flow of traffic?
For that matter - bathrooms with the sink in a nook. WTH is up with that? Yeah, it's great in a hotel or a house but in a busy fast food place? And why are the soap dispensers placed where young children can't reach them unless they climb up the sink or stretch really hard over the wet counter? And it's not like my kids are small or toddlers either.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Sept 10, 2014 10:35:28 GMT -5
I drive a small 2 seat car hatch back. Behind the seats are two security sections that have part of the rear compartment that folds down over them. In 3 door models, it's seating. I don't use them as they are hard to get to. I don't want to flip my seat forward then try to get my perfect angle again.
I am the only one in the car 99% of the time. I use the passenger floor for my purse then cover with the window shade. My umbrella sits beside the passenger seat.
I have two door sections for holding items. I could use that for my purse but it holds insect repellant, sunscreen, hand sanitizer wipes, first aid kit.
The hatchback has my golf clubs that I have not used this summer. My lawn chair, a jacket, and an extra backpack with gym clothes and shower items. And a blanket.
I would like an under the seat secured area for my purse. A lot of times I will carry only a wallet with my cellphone, cc, a few dollars. That fits about anywhere.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Sept 10, 2014 10:40:15 GMT -5
Why the hell do they put such shallow pockets in women's clothing (when they actually put pockets in them)? The pockets on my khakis are so shallow that I don't use them for anything because anything I put in there falls out.
Exactly how hard would it be to put a pocket in a dress or skirt? They don't sell men's pants without pockets.
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justme
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Post by justme on Sept 10, 2014 10:42:31 GMT -5
The worst is the fake pockets. Where it looks like you have a real pocket so if you don't look at it closely you're already home and wearing it when you realize it's a fake pocket.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Sept 10, 2014 10:42:59 GMT -5
Use the handicap soap in the stall. If no one was using it, that's where I took my kids in anyway so I could keep eye on them. There's a hook for purse or a plastic bin thing for purses. Now I'm driving DF everywhere and he gets my purse in his lap. He wants everyone to know he's a better driver than me btw.
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sesfw
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Post by sesfw on Sept 10, 2014 10:44:43 GMT -5
The 'sample' cup at a Drs office.
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PK Bucko
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Post by PK Bucko on Sept 10, 2014 10:48:26 GMT -5
You could just about haul groceries in the center console of my Suburban. It's huge.
I've always wondered what the hell the side pockets are really there for. Other than gathering trash.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Sept 10, 2014 10:53:39 GMT -5
Use the handicap soap in the stall. If no one was using it, that's where I took my kids in anyway so I could keep eye on them. There's a hook for purse or a plastic bin thing for purses. Now I'm driving DF everywhere and he gets my purse in his lap. He wants everyone to know he's a better driver than me btw. Actually, that's a good point Zib - some of these are placed so that I don't think the handicapped can reach them either. I may be misunderstanding you but the handicapped don't have a completely separate bathroom here - they have a stall but there's no sink or soap dispenser in there. The Culver's I like to go to recently remodeled the bathrooms. They used to have a soap dispenser near the edge of the counter area. My kids could reach it by walking around the sink/counter to the side instead of the middle. Now the soap dispenser is in the middle between the 2 sinks. It is so inconvenient. And I don't think the handicapped can reach it either but haven't really considered that. Why don't public places put a slight tilt towards the sinks on the counters so the water and soap spillage will drain into a sink instead of sitting on the counter? Yeah, I'll take my used paper towel and swipe up some of it, esp. if my kids are responsible for it. But it's gross to have to put anything down on precious counterspace when it's all wet and/or soapy.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Sept 10, 2014 10:55:12 GMT -5
I've always wondered what the hell the side pockets are really there for. Other than gathering trash. It's where I store my take out menus, maps and ice scraper. I have a little mag light in my center console, along with a stash of paper napkins.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Sept 10, 2014 10:59:30 GMT -5
Actually, that's a good point Zib - some of these are placed so that I don't think the handicapped can reach them either. I may be misunderstanding you but the handicapped don't have a completely separate bathroom here - they have a stall but there's no sink or soap dispenser in there.
I want to come back in my next life as a designer of handicapped bathroom stalls. I have seen every single poor design imaginable. In one, someone had installed the grab bars such that they were useless, they were too low to pull yourself up. This was in a high end salon. I knew the owner and mentioned it to him but have not gone back to see if he's bothered to correct them.
My personal favorite is where they located both the pull bars and the toilet paper dispenser in the Red Robin in Marysville. You need to balance on one butt cheek to juuuuuust be able to reach the dispenser. The pull bars are equally useful.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Sept 10, 2014 11:16:37 GMT -5
Female products that don't smell like freaking daisies or summer rain or whatever the hell. Unscented isn't even unscented. It's just gross.
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Sept 10, 2014 11:20:24 GMT -5
Use the handicap soap in the stall. If no one was using it, that's where I took my kids in anyway so I could keep eye on them. There's a hook for purse or a plastic bin thing for purses. Now I'm driving DF everywhere and he gets my purse in his lap. He wants everyone to know he's a better driver than me btw. Actually, that's a good point Zib - some of these are placed so that I don't think the handicapped can reach them either. I may be misunderstanding you but the handicapped don't have a completely separate bathroom here - they have a stall but there's no sink or soap dispenser in there. The Culver's I like to go to recently remodeled the bathrooms. They used to have a soap dispenser near the edge of the counter area. My kids could reach it by walking around the sink/counter to the side instead of the middle. Now the soap dispenser is in the middle between the 2 sinks. It is so inconvenient. And I don't think the handicapped can reach it either but haven't really considered that. Why don't public places put a slight tilt towards the sinks on the counters so the water and soap spillage will drain into a sink instead of sitting on the counter? Yeah, I'll take my used paper towel and swipe up some of it, esp. if my kids are responsible for it. But it's gross to have to put anything down on precious counterspace when it's all wet and/or soapy. An even better question is how people manage to get water all over the counter in the first place. I know kids can have issues reaching, but I've worked with grown women who would cover the entire expanse (and it was an expanse) of counter space with water. And not wipe it up!
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Sept 10, 2014 11:46:32 GMT -5
My thing is the peep hole in doors, they are too high to see out of. I am over 5ft 1in tall and can't unless I am standing on tiptoes. Many women and children are less than 5ft tall so the peep hole is well over their head.
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Mardi Gras Audrey
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Post by Mardi Gras Audrey on Sept 10, 2014 12:14:03 GMT -5
Women's dresses. Why the h%^& would you put a zipper on the back that goes all the way up? How are you supposed to zip something up when you are by yourself and it goes all the way up the back? Especially dresses that are snug against the body.
I fought with this one last weekend (I am usually a t-shirt and jeans gal). I ended up having to turn the dress around (Back of dress on chest), zip up most of the way, and wiggle it around and finish.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 10, 2014 12:16:40 GMT -5
Women's dresses. Why the h%^& would you put a zipper on the back that goes all the way up? They need to add the extra long zipper pull cord that wetsuits have.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Sept 10, 2014 12:18:46 GMT -5
Women's dresses. Why the h%^& would you put a zipper on the back that goes all the way up? How are you supposed to zip something up when you are by yourself and it goes all the way up the back? Especially dresses that are snug against the body. I fought with this one last weekend (I am usually a t-shirt and jeans gal). I ended up having to turn the dress around (Back of dress on chest), zip up most of the way, and wiggle it around and finish. underwear and jeans sizing not matching is another pet peeve of mine.
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on Sept 10, 2014 12:29:38 GMT -5
I really never thought about it before but you're right... unless I'm by myself, my purse ends up on the floor. How about a nicely designed hook behind the front passenger seat? Easy to reach over and hang the purse up... also easly accessible to reach back and grab your wallet if you're going through a drive through or just running in for a quick errand somewhere. My purse is always on the floor- usually in the back seat. I found out a couple years ago that cell phones can interfere with the airbag sensors in the passenger seat. The sensor light kept coming on. When I took it into the dealer the service guy asked if I kept my purse in the passenger seat. I took one look at him and said " if this is stupid woman story, I'm going to be pissed". He laughed at that and said it just because of the phone in the purse and that men put the phone in the cubby (which is what DH does).
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on Sept 10, 2014 12:32:28 GMT -5
Jeans- for men you can find just about any size 42x28 or something ridiculous. But if you're female, you need to be a certain waist/height ratio to find good fitting jeans. Why can't they make them with as many options as they do for men? God forbid you have long legs.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Sept 10, 2014 12:33:38 GMT -5
Women's dresses. Why the h%^& would you put a zipper on the back that goes all the way up? How are you supposed to zip something up when you are by yourself and it goes all the way up the back? Especially dresses that are snug against the body. I fought with this one last weekend (I am usually a t-shirt and jeans gal). I ended up having to turn the dress around (Back of dress on chest), zip up most of the way, and wiggle it around and finish. underwear and jeans sizing not matching is another pet peeve of mine. Many jean companies have finally started using ACTUAL SIZES like 28" waist instead of a size 6 or something. But we need three measurements: a waist, a hip, and a length. Then you could actually buy something that fit like men do. I also want normal slacks to be coded this way. What the heck is a 6 or an 8 or a 00 anyways?
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