Am I stupid?
I think I am.
I’ll prove it to you. Bring me forth any weirdly operating door, a shiny elevator or even a mere fancy faucet. I won’t be able to use the object at first. I’ll have to stop, study it for a while and then - maybe - I’ll make it work.
I remember not being able to wash my hands, to operate revolving doors, to flush the toilet (sorry for the eww moment), all more than once.
I always was like that - I suck at recognizing new usage patterns in objects. Sometimes, this proves useful, since I can relate to naive users more easily. But at all times, this quirk has made me an object of mockery and laughs.
Am I to blame that I cannot use faucets? I don’t know. Should I stop and examine a faucet before using it? I don’t think.
Lay off with the innovative designs people. Innovation is good, but we surely don’t need a hundred new ways of operating a revolving door. Or a faucet. I really hate faucets.
For this one time, my dear designers, don’t break the rules.
All yours,
t3h st00pid g1rl
P.S. At least it seems I’m not alone. Read this book.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Before looking at your P.S i was thinking “She’s reading The design of everyday things”. This book was an optional reading back in the old good days @ Uni and while at first i was a bit bored reading it, after a while it hit me.
About the rules, well, i am trying to think of some rules,some came to my brain but, is there a magic formula that we’d stick with? (Just asking really, no offense)
July 16th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
I think we’ve mentioned this before. We don’t need no buttons on the floor to make the faucet operate.You are not alone.Some people have to learn how to design.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:02 am
@Gerasimos
I’m guilty, I’m re-reading the book. As you said, I read it in Uni for the first time, back when affordances and conceptual models were just SOS subjects for the advanced HCI course.
Magic formula? There is none. Just stick to norms when having to do with lots of people. Especially in a place as private as, for example, a toilet.
One of my favourite examples is the automatic faucet that runs only when your hands are below it, operating on movement detection.
How on earth would a person like my grandmother ever be able to get that? You don’t get your hands accidentally below the faucet while trying to find a way to operate it, you keep them firmly attached to your body and scan with your eyes for a clue, like, 99% of the time. Fail.
@stelios
I believe this “button-on-floor” is a hygiene kind of thing. Anyone who had the …chance to use a mixed european toilet can tell you about the joys of hygiene.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:48 am
I’ve used the button on floor thing and it is not comfortable washing your hands while your right foot is pressing something.Maybe I’m not multi tasking. Movement detection is better. Still I prefer classic stuff. If the Brits can have clean toilets we all can!
July 17th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
This is what you should be reading… An oldie, but definitely within the guidelines of this post.
http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Me-Think-Usability/dp/0321344758/ref=pd_sim_b_1
July 18th, 2008 at 7:57 am
@Constantinos
Been there, done that!