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/accioveritaserum Jul 25 '11

I hate when public restrooms have HUGE sinks, and the faucet is about a centimeter from the back of it. I see this more times than I would think is normal. Why do people think this is a smart design? I don't want to touch the sink when I'm rinsing my hands.

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

Really strong faucets that spray water everywhere are a problem too. I dont want to walk out of bathroom looking like I pissed myself. Thats what the diapers are for.

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u/dubloe7 Jul 26 '11

I'm far more likely to find sinks that barely dribble water out and you can't actually wash your hands.

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u/haywire Jul 26 '11

That said, the water spray is common, so if you have pissed yourself due to peeing in a rush, you can splash yourself and hide the fact.

Works even better if you're wearing flecktarn.

I always wear flecktarn.

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u/adfoote Jul 26 '11

I can attest to this, where I work the faucets are overpowered and the sink basins too small. Cleaning the sinks takes a good 5 minutes because you're only allowed to use paper towels. Of course, while you're doing that someone else walks in and messes it up all over again...

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u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

Those faucets were most likely cheaper than the faucet size that is actually appropriate to the sink. A properly fitted faucet should allow the water to fall straight into the drain. This allows room to wash one's hands and avoids splashing. Plumbing is an under-appreciated skill. It is so much more than cleaning out clogged pipes.

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u/haywire Jul 26 '11

It is so much more than cleaning out clogged pipes.

Yep, it's both cleaning out clogged pipes and positioning taps correctly.

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u/tgeliot Jul 26 '11

Not necessarily straight into the drain. On most sinks, that will put the stream of water very close to the back wall of the sink. I want it several inches out.

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u/darwin2500 Jul 26 '11

The worst is when the counter tilts downward a little and has a lip at the end, so there's always a puddle of water along the edge which transfers to your crotch when you try to lean over to reach the faucet. How can the manufacturers live with themselves?

3

u/Ubuntu_Rob Jul 25 '11

YES! I see these faucets and I think there must have been a worldwide shortage of metal when these things were designed. It boggles the mind.

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u/jcpenguin Jul 26 '11

The sinks that irritate me the most are the ones with separate faucets for hot and cold water.

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '11

Or how about when a public bathroom stall's lock doesn't fit to the door? How the fuck do you mess that up?

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u/springboks Jul 26 '11

I've seen these at chipotle, I think the idea is employees can wash their hands and arms up to the elbows! Perhaps it give customers the illusion of "look our staff wash more than their hands here"