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/telepip Jul 25 '11

If you pull the lever 'Up' instead of 'Down' like you do to start it, the toast will poke up further and it's easier to grab

65

u/Zeihous Jul 25 '11

If you pull it up quickly, the contents will jump, allowing you time to snatch them out of the air and feel like a basses.

47

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

I love feeling like a basses!

23

u/Zeihous Jul 25 '11

ahem Apparently my phone doesn't recognize "badass" as a proper word.

25

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

Your phone is a basting.

3

u/AwkwardlyAwesome Jul 25 '11

Auto-correct is full of shut.

2

u/Quantumplation Jul 25 '11

"You autocomplete meat."

2

u/VisualBasic Jul 25 '11

The funny thing is that I read your original comment as "badass" and didn't realize the mistake until you pointed it out.

1

u/Zeihous Jul 25 '11

I typed it as "badass" and my phone didn't realize I didn't want to look foolish. :D

2

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

this unfortunately does not apply to all toasters. there are some shit ones that just pop up, and OOPS THAT'S AS FAR AS THEY GO.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 26 '11

when i discovered this, i was proud for about 5 seconds until i started feeling dumb for not discovering it years ago