Follow the link below to an article by Don Norman called:
Systems Thinking: A Product is More Than the Product.
Interesting argumentation and examples that is in line with what we are trying to achieve. Yet the argument on the product being also a service is not new and we should refer to Ezio Manzini, Carlo Vezzoli and others when discussing PSS (Product-Service Systems) as a way of understanding more systemic aspects of products and especially linking this to sustainability. Here are two references:
Manzini E., Vezzoli C., Clark G. (2001) Product-Service Systems. Using an Existing Concept as a New Approach to Sustainability, J. of Design Research 2001 – Vol. 1, No.2
C Van Halen, C Vezzoli, R Wimmer (2005) Methodology for Product Service System Innovation: How to develop clean, clever and competitive strategies in companies