20 Clever Design Tricks That Made Early Tech Feel Smart

For years, a visible antenna was almost inseparable from the image of a mobile phone. Consumers naturally associated a longer or more prominent antenna with stronger reception, which made it a valuable visual signal even as phone technology evolved. On some devices, however, the external antenna contributed little to actual reception or eventually became largely cosmetic as more important antenna components moved inside the handset. Manufacturers still understood that removing it could make a phone look less capable to consumers accustomed to seeing one. The protruding piece therefore survived partly because it communicated technological strength even when its practical importance had diminished. Much like decorative vents on a car, it helped users understand what the product was supposedly capable of doing. Sometimes the appearance of receiving a powerful signal mattered almost as much as the hardware responsible for receiving it.