Lasko 5165 Digital Ceramic Tower Heater

The Lasko 5165 is a digital heater with a remote control. As a digital machine, this heater meets users needs and requirements both functionally and non-functionally. Functionally, it brings up the room temperature very quickly when you turn on the power. Non-functionally, as you can see, most of the outlines of this product are curves. According to contour bias, a curve gives people a positive feeling and in this case, also promotes safety since people always concern about catching on fire when using a heater.

When you turn on the heater and try to adjust the temperature, you have to hit the "plus" or "minus" button twice. The screen on the machine will change from the room temperature to the pervious setting temperature after the first hit. It is more like awaking the machine first. This design provides forgiveness when people accidentally hit the button on the remote control. Temperature setting would not change as long as the second hit is not performed.

What's more, this product also provides good feedback by making a sound every time you hit a button. This allows people to use it without looking at it. For example, you can change temperature at night when all the lights are off and listen to the sound to know how many times you have hit the button.

However, screen is only located on the main machine, not the remote control. The poor design of visibility will add people's performance load a lot when they try to change temperature in the dark. People have to remember the pervious setting temperature (cognitive load) or looking at the main machine (kinematic load) when performing the task. I remember once I tried to change the temperature, I had to wear my glasses first in order to see the temperature straight.

What's more, as you can see from the picture, the placement of buttons are totally different between the main machine and remote control. There is no consistency between this two parts ,which also reduces the usability and learnability. I have to look very careful at the machine to make sure that my actions were right.

Overall, I would still recommend this product because it does so good on what it should do. I can almost ignore the poor design parts because of the functionality it has. If you don't want to spend the whole winter in a cold room like me, go get one!