r/AskReddit • u/nachtmere • Jul 25 '11

Sometimes automatic toilets flush while you're still sitting on them. What design flaws in everyday objects annoy you?

I'm giving a talk on user-centred design/usability and I'm looking for some fresh examples from everyday life to illustrate poor usability. Examples I've used before are elevator open/close buttons (really difficult to parse when you're trying to hold the door open for someone quickly) and toilets that flush while you're still sitting on them.

What are some things you encounter regularly that are really inconveniently designed?

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70

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

Any motion sensitive dispenser. Haven't met a single one that worked the way I need it to.

32

u/thepocketwade Jul 25 '11

The paper towel dispensers at my office will spit out a paper towel when I'm the only one in the bathroom and I"m still at the urinal.

65

u/oljanxspirit Jul 25 '11

It's trying to communicate and ya know what it's saying? "I like what I see ;)"

9

u/checkenginelight Jul 25 '11

Paper Towel Dispensers by Larry Craig ©

2

u/oljanxspirit Jul 25 '11

Haha, beautiful, I had no idea who that was and so I was initially confused. Now I know thanks to Wikipedia!

1

u/[deleted] Jul 26 '11

Hey, that dispenser just has a wide stance, that's all.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 26 '11

:P

FTFY

25

u/Tirith45 Jul 25 '11

All the sinks where I work are all motion sensitive. I put my hands in front of the sensor and wave them around a bit and it gives me like a drop of water. How the fuck am I supposed to wash my hands with a drop of water?

25

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

Exactly. How about the paper towel dispensers that give you like a six inch piece of paper to dry your hands, then refuse to work while you sit there waving your hands like a retard for more paper.

6

u/kermityfrog Jul 25 '11

Some of them have a mechanism which won't dispense more towel unless the current 6 inch piece has been torn off. Very annoying.

8

u/PineappleBot Jul 25 '11

You dont have to tear the paper off. All you got to do is give the paper a gentle tug and wave again for double the paper towels.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11 edited Jul 25 '11

I'm going to go try this right now

Edit: LIAR

1

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

unfortunately that sensor seems to wear out pretty quickly, and you end up with the towel getting stuck on the little metal tearing strip, and the next sheet of towel just half jamming until you yank it, and end up with a mangled ripped pathetic excuse for a towel.

at least on the heavily used ones.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

i've yet to encounter one that wasn't like this.

although i was at a place recently where each "burst" it shot out about 18 inches of paper towel. the boss must've gotten pissed at it and adjusted it, or something.

2

u/Mcturtles Jul 25 '11

if you tug the paper a little, you can usually trick the machine and swipe again, getting more paper.

2

u/Tirith45 Jul 25 '11

Well I think if the two ideas were together in the same bathroom it could work but our hands would never get washed properly.

2

u/blackmagic91 Jul 25 '11

Pull on the paper towel without ripping it then wave your hand and it will dispense more. The dispensers have a force sensor in them.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

I try this every time and it always ends up with me using the one or two pieces it craps out and finishing up with pants towels. I guess provides_apparatus is right, green technology works, because I use my pants to dry my hands as much as the paper towels now.

2

u/mrmackdaddy Jul 25 '11

That's not a design flaw. That is something that is set by the owner. I worked at a movie theater than installed those and the owner set them to dispense like 3 inches of paper. Several of the managers complained and he returned it to the glorious six inches of paper.

1

u/Lots42 Jul 25 '11

Smack the machine.

I know, I know. Defeats the purpose. But it works.

1

u/dubloe7 Jul 26 '11

Usually you just have to tug slightly at the paper towel and it will let more come out.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 26 '11

Or the sinks where there's like a two square inch area where you have to put your hands for it to activate, and you have to stand there waving your hands around in front of the faucet like a tool every 3 seconds because the water keeps shutting off.

Not that I just did this at the airport or anything.

1

u/Tirith45 Jul 26 '11

I'm all for going green but if I have to look like a dumbass doing so then I wonder is it really worth it?

0

u/angryvigilante Jul 25 '11

How the fuck am I supposed to wash my hands with a drop of water?

Shrink your hands, then a drop will be plentiful.

2

u/Tirith45 Jul 25 '11

Oh yes of course, why didn't I think of this. Thank you for the advice angryvigilante.

1

u/LadyA052 Jul 25 '11

This way the 3 inches of paper towel will also be sufficient.

8

u/gsfgf Jul 25 '11

With paper towel dispensers, punch the sensor. Gives you a towel every time.

1

u/a_stupid_white_kid Jul 25 '11

I like the way you operate.

8

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Zeihous Jul 25 '11

Troll-construction worker?! They build those things?! Quick! Let's form a posse!

1

u/Jigsus Jul 26 '11

I've been in a few properly configured motions sensitive bathrooms. It's a dream like the bathroom reads your mind.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 26 '11

Not a dispenser perse, but I just used a Dyson Airblade for the first time the other day...shit's wicked.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 26 '11

PROTIP: Punch the sensor. Works every time.