When does a tech device lose its edge with users?
Researchers sought to find out when — and why.
In the tech world, coolness takes more than just good looks.
Technology users must consider a product attractive, original and edgy before
they label those products as cool, according to researchers.
That coolness can turn tepid if the product appears to be
losing its edginess, they also found.
"Everyone says they know what 'cool' is, but we wanted
to get at the core of what 'cool' actually is, because there's a different
connotation to what cool actually means in the tech world," said S. Shyam
Sundar, Distinguished Professor of Communications, Penn State, and co-director
of the Media Effects Research Laboratory.