Assignment 16

iPod Shuffle

I’ve always had around 500 gigs of music, so there really hasn’t ever been an iPod that can hold it all, and that would be stupid anyway. Enter my iPod shuffle, purchased late in my freshman year of college and still going strong. I’ve done everything but eat it and it still works great, and I’m thinking about eating it and then using it later just to say I did.

I’ve driven over it, dropped it a few stories, washed it, and even left it outside in the elements accidentally several times. Also, the thing doesn’t have an LCD, so it uses virtually no power. I forget that I even have to charge it because I have to do so rarely, even with frequent use.

The Nintendo 64 Controller.

Yeah, yeah I know, it looks like a wad of bananas with buttons. But, despite its goofy appearance, the way this controller could be utilized by multiple age groups and for multiple types of gameplay comfortably makes it my favorite. The controller can be used by toddlers because it sits upright on a flat surface or floor, and the buttons can be utilized without gripping the entire controller. It’s one of the more functional in multiple types of gameplay settings than most that I’ve used, and additionally is a little less frightening to less frequent players. I always thought it had a more natural feel than most systems of the period and definitely trumps a few of the systems’ standard controllers that followed it.

My straight razor

I started using one occasionally to shave, because there’s nothing cooler than shaving with a razor that can cut your head off. After using it for a bit, I realized that while there is definitely a learning curve in learning to use it, the tool itself is very simple, well-balanced and easy to hold. The learning curve is entirely technique and not really how to interact with the tool itself.

The carbon steel blade dulls very easily but this is due to the extreme malleability of the metal, so it’s easy to sharpen again, and will be able to be

resharpened to its original edge many, many more times than stainless steel blades.This is one of my favorite designs/products because it was around before things we’re designed to intentionally fail and be replaced. If I take care of my razor properly, it’s likely I could use it my whole life and not replace it. Even Volvos don’t last that long.