responsive

The word ‘responsive’ is clearly related to the words ‘responsible’ and ‘responsibility’ which implies a new level of relationship. The ability of a product to respond, or its ‘response-ability’ is a key factor in high performance products such as handling in motor cars, computer performance and steps into the realm of legal responsibility (for example, the tobacco industry and public health). This reminds us that while these principles show up in the design of physical products and services they also imply a new way of thinking and can also be used as clues to changes in social thinking trends.