jim whitehead ejwcseucscedu like many young children daughter tatum age 21 months really likes music also likes control environment means wants one putting cds cd player getting music playing watching tatum ive discovered learn lot ui design watching 21montholds use technology definitely market niche toddlerfriendly cdmp3 player cd player combines play pause single button doesnt provide instantaneous feedback button pushed instead requiring wait music starts 510 seconds ui disaster since tatum doesnt get feedback right away presses button thereby pausing cd even plays shell ever get music presses button odd number times happens surprising amount time since eventually hits button music doesnt play toddlers pressing play must cause music start immediately within half second toddler get causality press button multiple times well pressing button multiple times shouldnt change semantics like elevator button matter many times press elevator still comes floor play button needs backhinged door mechanism feeding cd player also ui disaster tatum since door hinges back tatum angle cds put take putting cds isnt much problem taking since tatum grabs cds back edge edge comes first hitting lid tatum eventually forces wiggles cd process thats hard cd player hasnt yet resulted cd player broken surprisingly hasnt problem getting cd hole onto spindle tatum seems understand concept cd load area geometry naturally guides cd tatums cd player also plays tapes fm radio toddler mistake tatum doesnt understand need flick switch put player specific mode understands putting cd pressing play button sometimes understands buttons advancing song uses erratically well radio feature fm mono fm stero distinction totally lost tatum tatum understands binary distinction musicno music would ideal toddler cd player like would immediately start playing cd loaded soon cd load door closed would give audible feedback would single large play button typical cd controls would larger normal least half size play button located far away play button chance getting accidentally pressed way play play button would bright color different color player different color cd control keys device would play cds functions cd load area would flip open least 80 degrees small approachable toddler possible repeatedly drop player height 12 without affecting player jim wed 4 sep 2002 110303 0700 cd player ui toddlers