Johannes Gleim Jul 17, 2010:

Kims 2nd reference refers to Herrman Ebbinghaus, the inventor of the "learning curve".

Ebbinghaus war Begründer der experimentellen Erforschung des Gedächtnisses und Entdecker der Lernkurve und der Vergessenskurve.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Ebbinghaus

Ebbinghaus made several findings that are still relevant and supported to this day. First, arguably his most famous finding, the forgetting curve. The forgetting curve describes the exponential curve that illustrates how fast we tend to forget the information we had learned. The sharpest decline is in the first twenty minutes, then in the first hour, and then the curve evens off after about one day.

A typical representation of the forgetting curveThe learning curve, which was described by Ebbinghaus, refers to how fast we learn information. The sharpest increase occurs after the first try, and gradually evens out, meaning that less and less new information is retained after each repetition. Like the forgetting curve, the learning curve is also exponential.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Ebbinghaus

Kim Metzger Jul 17, 2010:

Johannes - read the reference below. Another specific context of the term "learning curve" involves the effort required to acquire a new skill (e.g., expertise with a new tool) over a specific period of time. http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Learning-curve

Johannes Gleim Jul 17, 2010:

After return from my business trip I look into the Schäfer, Wirtschaftswörterbuch and found:
Einarbeitung = orientation, familiarization, settling-in (ie, new employees)
Einarbeitungskosten = cost of employee orientation
Einarbeitungsprogramm = orientation program
Einarbeitungszeit = lead-in period, orientiation period, preriod of familiarization, settling-in period
Einarbeitungsszuschlag = learner allowance.

learner curve = Lernkurve
learning-curve pricing = Preisbildung nach Lernkurve (ie, conceived by Boston Consulting: company moves initial price down by learning ahead of actual cost reductions; idea is to create bigger demand faster, sur cost reductions, and discourage neu competitors.
Learning fuction = Lernfunktion,
Learning process = Lernprozeß

Same translation for Einarbeitungzuschlag in "Dictionary of Exact Science and Technology".

Conclusion: learning curve is only correct for marketing products.

jccantrell (asker) Jul 15, 2010:

Thanks to all contributers I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. Mack was right on and this was a specialized device. "Intuitive" has already been used, "adoption cost" is more like I am rolling out a new device for the whole company and that does not appear to be the case here.

Still, I appreciate that everyone gave me a few minutes of thought and provided feedback.
I hope to return the favor.

Mack Tillman (X) Jul 15, 2010:

Mass market or tight market? Is this computer-controlled piece of radio equipment a good intended for a mass market or rather for a tight or specialized market? Mass market would imply a user-friendly piece of equipment like Jennifer suggests. Usually mass market devices would be designed to achieve intuitive usability.

jccantrell (asker) Jul 14, 2010:

No more context It is just a bullet list of features for a computer-controlled piece of radio equipment.

Johannes Gleim Jul 14, 2010:

Could you please provide more context? This would us allow to appreciate all answers and to choose the best one.