Sick! The hidden message from American Chopper for technologists

American Chopper on Discovery is one of my favourite TV shows. I often have sat on the couch and wondered why I was so fascinated by the Teutuls. I left it at, enjoyment. I also suspected that the pressures of working against deadlines and the bombastic and aggressive behaviour hit an accord with my work in Information technology (IT). However, I revisited the theme after attending a presentation by Peter Armstrong, where he asked the question of what was the purpose of a rev counter in a car. He assets it serves no purpose to the underlying functionality and purpose of a vehicle or is of any use to the driver. Now I wouldn’t buy a car without a rev counter, so if Peter’s statements are correct, what is the underlying reason for that damn rev counter. There is no enjoyment for me in a car without a rev counter. I once drove an old sports car without one, but the loud sound of the engine in that case was a more than suitable substitute. I eventually found the answer in American Chopper. American Chopper is about making motorcycles that are sick! Sick means cool, good looking and aesthetically pleasing (heck, I can feel Paul Sr warming up his knuckles for that last description). The bottom line is that the Teutils won’t make a chopper unless it look good. Yes, it must be functional and have a purpose but it must be sick! Now most software and hardware that is delivered by technology companies is nauseating. I suggest you reply as a comment with your suggestions of the worst examples in both hardware and software. These products look the totally opposite of sick! The assertion is that it does not need to look good if it is functional. Well, I think they have it all wrong! Firstly, the aspect of quality is overlooked. A company that has been detailed enough to spend time on designs that make it look good, would have spent greater due diligence on the functionality. A better looking product will be technologically better. Secondly, there is the comfort. Product sets with rev counters, although delivering no functionality benefit, serves the purpose of harmonizing and making the purchaser of the product comfortable. This results in a satisfied customer, and a satisfied customer is the best advert for your business. As an example, I have missed the LCD panel with the paddle switches on Madge token-ring switches. That was sick. The current generation of Ethernet switches with dull colours, bad designs and stupid flashing Christmas lights don’t move me to confidence. It comes down to that fundamental genetic instinct to kick the tyres of a car. Admit it, you do it although there is no functional purpose to do it. Before, I am cast out as a heretic into the wilderness, let me offer an example in Apple. Apple customers are the most vehement supporters of their products and I believe that the design of the products is core to this characteristic. The hidden message to technologists is that don’t stop when you have a functional product that satisfies a business requirement. Go the extra mile, to make it sick.