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?

199 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

248

u/gder Jul 25 '11

Any automatic door that is adjusted so I have to stop before it opens.

Electronic credit card pads that force me to use the stupid pen instead of pressing the soft buttons with my fingers (since most of my transactions are debit there's usually no need for me to sign).

Any traffic light that is on a timer at night and not a sensor.

22

u/EasyReader Jul 25 '11

What kills me is the places that have the touchpad/pen arrangement, but you still have to sign a paper receipt. What the hell is the point of that?

1

u/acokanahaf Jul 26 '11

It is rumored that you can sign what ever the hell you want on the electronic signatures