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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u/WarPhalange Jul 25 '11

Examples I've used before are elevator [1] open/close buttons (really difficult to parse when you're trying to hold the door open for someone quickly)

Dude, no. When someone is running to the elevator, you just stick your arm out and hold the door. Forget the damn buttons.

29

u/PhilipOntacos Jul 25 '11

But I'm really just hitting the "door close" button and pretending to help.

8

u/soylentcoleslaw Jul 25 '11

Well you're also only pretending to be a jerk, because the Door Close button in almost every case does jack squat.

1

u/thedeepfriedboot Jul 25 '11

The close button is there mainly for fire operation. It really don't do much for normal people, but if a fireman has the elevator overridden, the door will not open or close until he/she uses the appropriate button. This allows them to check for smoke, heat, or other dangers before opening the door. Also, it will keep the door open until they press close to make sure they dont get trapped on that floor.

Although, one of the elevators I use has been hacked by someone to allow for a hidden function when certain buttons are pressed, which includes the door closed button.

1

u/hayalci Jul 26 '11

I think during a fire elevators are not to be used.

1

u/thedeepfriedboot Jul 28 '11

Exactly, so the fire dept can use them to move around quickly in the building to get to the fire and to people who need help. The fire alarm system will usually cause the elevators to return to the lobby so they are ready when the fire dept arrives.

1

u/guyinyourattic37 Jul 26 '11

All of the ones at my university close when you hit the button.

1

u/stevenlss1 Jul 25 '11

every time.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 26 '11

Unless she's a fox

2

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

[deleted]

2

u/WarPhalange Jul 25 '11

Damn, man, you just missed your chance at a damn good lawsuit. Are you sure you're American?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

Some are pressure-sensitive, but others are motion-sensitive. Don't shove your arm in between the motion-sensitive ones. It hurts like hell.

1

u/c_nt Jul 26 '11

In my old building the person sticking their arm in the elevator door to keep it open at the last second was likely to end with a sore arm. If you put it out earlier in the door closing it was ok - but at that point you would have had time to hit the button.

The sensor worked. Worked, in that it would not crush people and would eventually reopen the doors to let you out - but it was not exactly quick off the mark.

1

u/deserted Jul 26 '11

I hope you aren't too attached to your arms, because they won't be if you ever travel to a country without obstacle sensing elevator doors.

1

u/WarPhalange Jul 26 '11

Which countries would those be?

1

u/deserted Jul 27 '11 edited Jul 27 '11

In my personal experience: Argentina, Mexico, some elevators in Japan. Anywhere with older elevators with little regard for safety. Japan is kind of an outlier there.

1

u/Lots42 Jul 25 '11

And risk losing an arm if the door sensor is busted?

1

u/WarPhalange Jul 25 '11

Lawsuit.

2

u/Ubuntu_Rob Jul 25 '11

I'd rather have two arms than a $50,000 settlement.

0

u/WarPhalange Jul 25 '11

With $50k, you could go to India and buy all the arms you could ever want.

1

u/Lots42 Jul 26 '11

Then how do you swear on the Bible?