Figure 2.x MonAmi 153 ballpoint pen (composite image with two
states, open and closed)
Another addictive transition with a satisfying sound is the
repeated clicking of a ballpoint pen, the metronome for office
workers everywhere. With each repeated click, the ink reservoir
protrudes or retracts from the body of the pen, not always to
ready the pen for writing, but simply because it feels and sounds
good. The most common addictive clicker is a toggle at the top of
the pen, although the classic Korean design of the MonAmi 153
ballpoint pen is even more satisfying and sensorial.
The MonAmi, which means “my friend” in French, is one of the
most common items ever produced in Korea,^14 with over 3.3
billion in sales since its introduction in 1963.^15 The ballpoint tip of
the MonAmi is revealed by pressing down on the top of the pen,
but its retraction back into the body is triggered with a sliding
control on the side. These two separate mechanisms create a
more natural mapping between the force of the action and the
direction of the ink cartridge; the shape of the spring-loaded
slider seems like it’s just asking to be triggered. Each control
results in a unique sound, and the possibility of alternating
between single- and two-finger operation adds to the addictive
cadence.
A more high-tech product category where satisfying transitions
played a differentiating role is the mobile phone market of the
early 21st century. The first mobile phones are often referred to
as “bricks,” in reference to their bulky size as well as their
horizontal shape. As phones miniaturized, this basic “bar” form
was maintained for many phones, with keyboard and screen
always exposed and at the ready.
(^14) "Prominent Designs Symbolize Generations of Korean Lives." Korea.net. Accessed
January 25, 2015. http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=74101.
(^15) "[ ] ' ' 153." Chosun.com. Accessed January 25, 2015.
http://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/02/15/2009021500723.html.