Evaluation: Critical Appraisal

Our first prototype built on ours designs is around 8cm long and this feels a bit short in for my hand, obviously this product is aimed at users with smaller hands. The button layout is quite good and the size and placing of the buttons reflect their purpose.

The device is not particularly ergonomic and would be quite uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time. The device is a suitable size to be carried in the pocket or around the neck but could afford to be larger without compromising this. Operation is fairly intuitive and the menu's are clear, however the screen size is limited by the size of the device and could benefit from being enlarged.

Scanning words is simple although takes some getting used to. The combination of audio and visual output make the device fun and accessible although screen size is a hindrance of on-screen information.

Connecting the device to a PC is straight forward and is the same as all other USB style devices such as cameras and MP3 players. This activity may require assistance from a computer literate adult but could easily be demonstrated and understood.