We’ve all looked at the back of an iPhone and wondered what those little symbols mean and then questioned why they need to be there. Most people probably can’t decipher them, but they provide details regarding trade regulations and indicate how the device should be properly disposed of. Thanks to the new E-Label act, a bipartisan bill recently introduced by the US Senate, manufacturers have more options for including this information on their devices.
With this new bill, certain marks (such as the FCC ID numbers, or the “CE” mark required for products that will be sold in Europe) could be displayed on the screen of the electronic, instead of being etched into the casing.
Does this kind of change make much difference to the average consumer? Perhaps not, but it does have the potential of lowering manufacturing costs by removing a step in the production process. It also allows for manufacturers to further streamline the look of their devices –and we all know that Apple (in particular) likes a minimalist and beautiful design… not to mention the appeal of not having to find space on smaller gadgets like smartwatches for all of those labels.
Jillian Koskie is an experienced software developer, content writer, project manager and usability design expert. With over 17 years in these roles, Jillian has enjoyed applying her skill-set to assist clients and users across a wide variety of sectors including: legal, health, and financial services. Combining these professional opportunities with a love of technology, Jillian is pleased to contribute articles, opinions, and advice to numerous news outlets, websites, and publications.
