It’s the year 2017. These days, it’s not uncommon for us to encounter several pieces of technology before we even leave the house in the morning. Simple devices like coffee makers and alarm clocks have had a space in our homes for decades, and with the entrance of the digital age, have made some impressive strides in technological advancement over the last several years. Alarm clocks have transformed into sleep-monitoring smartphone apps, and coffee makers now communicate with these alarm clocks to automatically brew a fresh pot of coffee just in time for when you wake up. As more and more users become accustomed to the convenience of smart technology and device connectivity in their personal lives, our expectation for digital convenience extends beyond our everyday personal devices and into our work lives, into places we haven’t ever considered.
It’s not surprising that many of the trends we see in our everyday devices have transferred over to the world of lab equipment, specifically, material testing systems. The most common trends in these systems over the last several years have had an extreme focus on one thing: the user. In a world where technical specifications of products are often neck-and-neck, or too ambiguous to differentiate, user experience, or UX, is the ideal opportunity to make a product or service differentiated enough to succeed. Some of the most common trends include touch technology, enhanced ergonomics, and internet connectivity.