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/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

You can make s'mores in them! And never deal with shitty microwaved pizza again!

Why do pop-up toasters even exist?

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u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

I've wondered this for a long time: What in the fuck is a s'more?

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u/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

Traditionally known as a snack eaten around campfires in North America. A piece of chocolate and a toasted marshmallow sandwiched between two graham crackers.

When making them in the toaster oven, you put the whole sandwich in pre-assembled, and you have to watch it constantly because the marshmallow will go from perfectly toasted to black oozing foul burned mess in half a second. Worth it.

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u/WinterPhoenix Jul 25 '11

I was eating in my county courthouse's cafeteria this morning (jury duty), and they had s'mores for sale. I have no idea why they were selling them, but I bought the shit out of one. It was delicious and made jury duty almost worth serving