Unless you know the name, then search works (as long as you're willing to scroll through 150 totally different items with that name).
* is everything in the picture included * what are all the possible exterior dimensions of the product * what are the specifications of the products down to all the specifications which make you choose one product over another
The saddest part is, lately it's been impossible to find this data on the manufacturers website as well. Basic things like how many nits does the TV have, how big does the front panel need to be for the dishwasher etc.
When you login, there are two types of accounts you can log into. Ikea and Ikea Family. These are shown as tabs, and the tab labels are faint. The login screen defaulted to the Ikea Family, so my individual login never worked, again because the labeling wasn't clear.
It wasn't until I was ready to reset my pw that I carefully looked at every screen element and noticed the tabs.
Now, over the past 5 years or so we're seeing online tech magazines move into print[0], record labels racing to get back up to speed for vinyl printing[1], and "lo-fi" looks and sounds and devices taking up a larger and larger space in pop culture[2].
If anything, I get the sense that the younger generations are seeing the value in attention and peace, and are moving in directions that afford them more of that—or at least control over that in their own lives and thoughts.
The general attitude, at least as far as I've discerned from my own observations, has been that "everything has it's optimal place" rather than adopting one tech to rule them all.
[0] https://store.increment.com
[1] https://longlivevinyl.net/2018/07/30/pressing-concerns-the-n...
[2] I don't have a nice summary for this one. It's just everywhere I look.
As with most things, I gather humanity is continually optimizing for itself. And what that looks like is what most gamblers usually get wrong because our foresight is often just that limited—especially when the result is going back to something most people thought we were done with. We are just a bunch of monkeys acting strangely, after all.
Without a doubt real-time video sharing and VR/AR will colour our world and help shape the future. They already have.
But that's not the point I was making. It's that, without certain knowledge of the future many people are willing to generalize and write off "old technology" in a fleeting way and without reflection.
Upon further reflection (using the music industry as an example), something like a vinyl music record was optimized for human attention and appreciation of a certain type of artwork. The industry, beginning in the 80's through the early 2000's, figured people would only care for convenience, and "good-enough" quality.
The current market forces have shown them to be wrong in their assumption that was the sum of what made music listening and purchases worthwhile. In reality, the experience from end-to-end really shaped the value of it.
From the sensual aspects of browsing a record store—smells, feeling, sociability, exposure to new art—to taking the physical object home, opening it, and performing the ritual of setting it on the turntable and tuning a system to play it back to your pleasure.
A lot of that was lost in the novelty of being able to carry your favourite songs everywhere in your pocket. The industry adapted, began to shut down old production facilities and retire old machinery.
When the novelty wore off and people were seeking more of an experience and less commodity the industry was not prepared for it.
It's getting there now. And I think we've ended up with what's approaching the best of all possible worlds: we've got convenience when we want it, and a selection of encompassing experiences for those who appreciate them.
The big mistake was the same big mistake humanity will make over and over again as it optimizes for itself: hubris. Illustrated by: "We've learned something new and incredible! Well now we know everything."
We never do, of course. But regardless, barring some forced eternal austerity or all-consuming catastrophe, humanity continues to optimize for itself always narrowing on on the mean good (often exercising a range of potential outcomes along the way from inconsequential to horrendous).
Relating to the larger subject at hand: paper is optimal in so many ways and the environmental aspects become only technical problems to be solved, not philosophical ones about whether or not it's worth it. Being so ready to erase something like that and force humanity onto tablet computers or some other novel technology is such a fine illustration of hubris it's almost trite.
Yes, I meant this in a generation-period sense. For 10-20 years AR/VR will be the fad that this kid will run for until they grow up. But it may also be strong enough to shift the culture long term.
I feel the same about 'old' not being lesser than new. Many spoke about how strange this feeling is. How limited 8bit games were full of wonders, weird illustrations. Yes the feeling of browsing small or big stores for items (music, books or else).. it's all part of our lives and 24/7 digital nomad with all of spotify.. doesn't compensate for this somehow.
I spend a lot of time reading about old tech. Sometimes I'm astonished but the ingenuosity or beauty (log slider rules are my favorite computing device now). I powered an old tape drive and the mechanics and sound felt special.. and more fun than the latest tech that is so invisible to our sense. I smile watching how tape decks were made, trivial tech (bits of metal, holes and springs) yet it's not less complex than a program.
I think the best we can really do is look at each successive generation's cultural adoption. Besides something like vinyl, there are many phenomena that persist in spite of being "outdated". I mean, a car will get us somewhere faster, but people still ride horses for other reasons—and for reasons that a car will never be able to even emulate.
It's not about "retro", it's about ephemera and ritual and appreciation.
Certainly, dedicated fans of music exist in all aspects of human culture and not just western ...hipsterdom.
Imagine using AR to add furnitures to your current room with furniture from a virtual catalogue. That way, you can see how your room would look like instead of imagining it inside your head.
And if IKEA were to do it, they can just add shopping feature so the customer could purchase the furniture after trying it out inside their own room. That totally sounds like a killer app!
I wonder if there's anything like that already on the market.
iOS only though: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ikea-place/id1279244498
It exists. The IKEA Smart app (from IKEA itself).
I don't know if they made it generally available, but I know IKEA made a demo/beta app that did just that.
maybe kids now are doing it online?