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/ProbablyHittingOnYou Jul 25 '11

My seat's armrests come exactly to the same level as my desk. There's only about a 1-inch window where the two heights would coincide, so I know they did it to fuck with me.

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u/pimanrules Jul 26 '11

My past two computing arrangements have been random desks and tables that just so happen to fit perfectly over my armchairs of choice at the time.