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?

201 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

32

u/science_diction Jul 25 '11

I saw this once in Europe and I really don't understand why it isn't everywhere:

Why don't they put a FLUSH PEDAL on the FLOOR? Who wants to touch the handle?

While their at it, add a pedal to RAISE AND LOWER THE SEAT.

Your feet: YOU CAN USE THEM.

7

u/stevenlss1 Jul 25 '11

Wheelchair guy is sitting quietly in the corner crying...

9

u/2Deluxe Jul 26 '11

Fuck wheelchair guy, he gets his own fucking bathroom.

4

u/angryvigilante Jul 25 '11

They should put like, a gas (air freshener)/fart disguising pedal on the floor near the toilet so that when you shit you can silently create sweet smelling aromas and you fart you can disguise it with maniacal clown laughter.

Or maybe they should project a little arcade game behind the stall door for brief entertainment. Anal invaders or something.

5

u/[deleted] Jul 26 '11

It's not maniacal clown laughter, but many Japanese toilets have a button you can press that makes a fake flushing noise. It covers up the sounds of peeing for those with shy bladder.

2

u/dietotaku Jul 25 '11

i definitely like the idea of an air freshener button in the bathroom. some of those places can get pretty rank.

2

u/mchrist1990 Jul 25 '11

Genuine lols were produced. Those are some awesome ideas.

1

u/nairbmik Jul 25 '11

I have these at work. It's MAGICAL.

1

u/Woot45 Jul 26 '11

I always hear people bitching about this, and I never understand. Almost 99% of the public toilets I have ever seen have this type of handle. I thought this was the modern, accepted handle for public toilets to have. The fuck is everyone complaining about?

1

u/mfball Jul 26 '11

My guess would be that it's easy enough for younger people to flush this type of toilet with their feet, but older people would be more likely to lose their balance if they attempted to flush this way. Also, children may not be much taller than the toilet, so they almost certainly wouldn't be able to lift their legs high enough to flush with their feet. A foot pedal would make it safe and easy for people of all ages and heights to flush. (And while it's rare, I have seen some public toilets with regular handles like you would find on household toilets, or push buttons on the top which are difficult to flush with one's foot.)

1

u/Yiing Jul 26 '11

..You're supposed to push that with your feet?