Miniaturisation has its merits, but many devices are becoming too small to use accurately. A pet peeve is the selector on a Radio/Cassette/CD Player.
Too often there's no way to select the function you want other than hit or miss as the switch slips right past what you want to listen to.
Why does this have to be? We asked the guys at Electronics Forum and posted their replies in 'comments' below:
Answers from 'Electronics Forum' members:
ReplyDelete"I guess as soon as you have more than two positions you have to trade off the detent force against the force required to overcome it.
Large selectors can add another plane (think automatic transmission) or a ratchet mechanism to step through selections but the miniature slide is pretty limited in design possibilities. When they get really small you have to add the ham fist equation too.
Alternatives require totally different approaches not always electronically (or economically) feasable depending on the control. There's the up/down selector button or pair to electronically select or chase 'outputs' (remember 8 tracks?) and display position say with LEDs, but this would require at least a dedicated IC and perhaps switching elements (relays, FETs).
Rotary knobs were king in console equipment but are just not suitable on say an ipod. - By Jimthecopierwrench
"There are lots of better ways, but, like every" - By tekwiz
Source: http://www.dutchforce.com/~eforum/index.php?s=b7dd676720160ee2037321383f3b5a0b&