For questions involving physical interfaces and interactions with "real world" objects.
256
votes
22answers
12k views
Why do people clear the screen multiple times when using a calculator?
I've noticed that most people when using a real or a virtual calculator, they hit the Clear button multiple times when clearing the screen (even though hitting it once is enough), so I started ...
183
votes
25answers
30k views
How can users be prevented from pouring water into the bean compartment of a coffee machine?
Typical coffee machines have two user-accessible compartments: one for water and one for coffee beans. Pouring water into the bean compartment kills most machines, the repairs cost a fortune.
Now ...
150
votes
16answers
26k views
Why do most public toilet doors open inwards?
Public restrooms design usually pay great attention to hand washing, providing facilities like wash basin (sink) - sometimes with touch free, IR operated taps - soap and hand drier or paper towels.
...
104
votes
15answers
7k views
Who needs an external on/off Wi-Fi button?
It puzzles me that there are Laptops which are shipped with external physical Wi-Fi buttons. I see no real use of it, but it might have a historical explanation?! The only time one notice the external ...
87
votes
19answers
6k views
Which way should be “on” for a switch?
Most of us use switches every day in various forms. And although there are sometimes general norms in countries as to which direction is "on", there is variation between countries.
So when ...
75
votes
7answers
5k views
What reason could Nintendo have had for putting the A and B buttons the wrong way round?
When Nintendo brought out it's first game system, the NES, it had a controller with four buttons:
Select
Start
A
B
However, somewhere, a designer, in their infinite wisdom, decided that the A and ...
40
votes
6answers
4k views
Why don't ATMs give you cash before your card?
I live in Australia, so this might not apply worldwide, but here, when withdrawing money, the ATM will give me back my bank card, then several seconds later the cash comes out.
This typically leads ...
40
votes
2answers
1k views
Why do numpads on keyboards and phones have reversed layouts?
I came across this on the web. It's supposed to be funny, but we all know better :)
So, why are the numpad layouts different, and what are the reasons behind each?
34
votes
11answers
2k views
Why do Microwave oven UIs fail?
I’m not a professional chef, but I do know my way around the kitchen and its machines. The dishwasher, the fridge, the freezer, the stove and the oven all works as expected in many homes. Could you ...
31
votes
9answers
2k views
Why don't most elevator panels let you unselect?
We've all seen it in the movies where a kid will push all the buttons in an elevator. We've all likely done it - accidentally hit the wrong floor.
There's no unselect after you select a floor in an ...
29
votes
7answers
2k views
What are the usability benefits of using multiple monitors?
I've read a lot of articles suggesting that work patterns are more effective when using more than one monitor. But why is that the case, from an HCI perspective?
And as follow-up questions, are there ...
28
votes
6answers
920 views
Can stairs have a user experience?
Is there any UX consideration that goes into the design/construction of stairs? I know there are various local building codes and the ADA which regulate these things to some degree but stairs at ...
28
votes
7answers
1k views
Why don't sandwich toasters have an on/off switch?
The absolute majority of electrical appliances have an On/Off switch. However, the absolute majority of sandwich toasters do not - you just plug them into the socket and unplug them when you're done. ...
28
votes
6answers
1k views
A better condom user experience
The lack of use of condoms is one of the most critical issues in global health today. However the problems with condoms have little to do with how effective they are when used. Instead the problems ...
26
votes
14answers
3k views
Traffic lights: why yellow before green?
Traffic lights around the world use the yellow light to warn people that it will soon turn to red, so that people can stop before. This is perfectly understandable.
However, I found out that in some ...
26
votes
10answers
2k views
Traffic lights: “yellow” is progress, not state
When thinking about how (real-world) traffic lights work, I wonder if there is a more intuitive way to display the yellow light. The meaning of Green and Red are states:
Green: Ok, you can go!
Red: ...
21
votes
4answers
570 views
Bathrooms near elevators
Some office buildings have communal bathrooms (British English: lavatories). By this I mean bathrooms for use by the tenants and guests of all the offices on that floor, as opposed to bathrooms under ...
21
votes
7answers
897 views
How can a TV Remote's UX be improved?
TV remotes have the astounding distinction of having about half as many keys as my keyboard and one thousandth the functionality. The problem stems from the (perceived) need to present every possible ...
18
votes
12answers
1k views
Why are child-resistant packages sometimes easier to open by kids than adults?
Based on discussions with friends and colleagues there seem to be difficulties opening child-resistant packages in general. There are even stories of parents letting their kids (supervised) open child ...
18
votes
9answers
2k views
Why do alarm clocks not all come with 5/7 day alarms for the working week?
In all the advances in usability why do alarm clocks still wake us up on Saturday? Why not only Monday to Friday instead of being set every night?
Do we have to rely on our mobile phone if we want ...
18
votes
8answers
1k views
Why do people mount TVs so high on the wall in their homes?
When I was a kid, movie theatres tended to have the screens fairly high and the seats were all at or near ground level (very gentle slope), meaning we all looked up at the screen. Over time people ...
17
votes
5answers
2k views
Why does the Redbox machine have barriers around the credit card swipe reader?
Perhaps you've seen one of these before.
A couple of inches above and below the magnetic stripe reader are protrusions that allow just enough room to swipe a credit card. The barriers are a ...
16
votes
4answers
868 views
What’s the use of vertical guide lines when filling out forms using handwriting?
I’m quite fast making shopping lists via handwriting, and I think I’m not alone using small notes instead of trying to make lists in my phone. But when I come to the store and they give me a discount ...
16
votes
5answers
332 views
Which placement of list of ingredients is most convenient for the cook?
In the process of doing the layout for a cookbook, I'm faced with the problem of placing the list of ingredients for each recipe. I've looked at several cookbooks and seen numerous approaches. I can ...
15
votes
5answers
593 views
Why do most dashboards use capital words?
Most car manufacturers seem to use ALL CAPS for the interiors's buttons and switches, at least when they are not using symbols. Example:
They even use capitals for things that are not even ...
13
votes
5answers
449 views
Why do Juice cartons fail on opening?
When I open a simple juice carton I fail on opening. I always seem to waste some of the concentrated juice on the kitchen sink and I wonder – do I do it wrong or is it the package that does not have a ...
13
votes
1answer
456 views
How can you indicate a hidden button on the back of a device?
The first time I used an iMac it was a terrible user experience - I couldn't turn it on. I was scouring the keyboard and running my hands around the edge of it looking for the on button, or some magic ...
12
votes
3answers
526 views
What is the reason for Concave round buttons in Elevators
What is the reason many elevators have concave shaped buttons.
Like this:
Any special reason behind this?
12
votes
11answers
533 views
“Tool” or “target” on vacuum cleaner pedal?
I always get confused by the icons on my vacuum cleaner pedal.
Take a look at the upper icon.
Is that icon representing
1) The tool. I.e. "Your now using the pedal without the brush" (ergo, on a ...
10
votes
1answer
287 views
Why do US food labels intermix desirable and undesirable properties without distinction?
I find it remarkable that the US FDA, after years of tweaking and no doubt lots of time and money invested, could only come up with a food label that is terribly confusing! The left side shows a ...
10
votes
3answers
212 views
Elevator dispatch algorithm choice
We have a single elevator servicing an 8 level residential building. What might be the optimal elevator positioning algorithm to optimize user experience (primarily, wait time)?
I was thinking ...
10
votes
4answers
113 views
Keyboard number row ordering
On a typical keyboard, why is the 0 in the number row next to the 9 instead of the 1?
This seems like a question which should have a straight-forward answer, but the only one I could find is this ...
10
votes
3answers
997 views
Why do light switch buttons have up/down direction when it's really a toggle function?
If you do a quick image search on your favorite search engine on "light switch" you get a large number of images. Most of them have up and down direction, to represent state. Up for on in the US, and ...
9
votes
5answers
1k views
Why do light switches find themselves OUTSIDE the room they light up in some European countries?
Okay, to be fair my experience is mostly with Poland, though I have observed this electrical interior design decision in a few neighboring countries while travelling, but can't generalize there.
...
9
votes
1answer
365 views
Dice and Domino Dot Convention
I noticed dice and dominos both use the same convention for dot placement. Is there a reason for this? Is there any research on how to layout dots so that they are most readable?
9
votes
4answers
541 views
Why do Pedestrian Traffic Signals only play the audible crossing notification for only a short duration and not for the entire duration of crossing?
As per with the American Disability Act (ADA), audible pedestrian signals are supposed to be implemented in most traffic signal projects. These audible signals are designed to assist visually impaired ...
9
votes
2answers
604 views
Why do manufacturers of most small/medium refrigerators default the door to swing counter-clockwise?
Most people are right-handed, right hand is handy.
However, most small/medium refrigerator doors swing counter-clockwise by default. This forces you to move/arrange heavy things with your left hand.
...
9
votes
2answers
387 views
Is duping the consumer really a good business practice?
I have had this at the back of my mind for sometime and I believe UX is the proper place to post this though I may not phrase the question right so please chime in if you have suggestions!
There are ...
9
votes
4answers
399 views
Why did packaging for reams of paper change from paper to plastic?
After realizing UX includes the wonderfully apropos tag "physical" I am hoping to get some insight into something that has long been a conundrum for me: when the packaging around a ream of paper ...
8
votes
7answers
1k views
Why is a manual transmission so complicated? [closed]
While driving I noticed that the gearbox is complicated for a first time users. I find it hard to tell which gear my car is in while driving.
Is there a reason for this design, and is there a better ...
8
votes
4answers
280 views
Why are sinks always rounded?
I've noticed a trend recently that some sinks have a flat base, but they seem to be few and far between. Are there any UX reasons why sinks have traditionally always been round?
8
votes
4answers
238 views
What are the User Experience disciplines in the analog world?
It is clear to me that User Experience (UX) is about how a person feels about using a product, system or service.
This website is focused on the digital world, but what happens on the analog world? ...
8
votes
4answers
230 views
Is the middle power option 50% or 60%?
A friend of mine has a blender with 6 control selections: One off position, and five power settings in order of less to more power. Example below:
A discussion has erupted over whether or not the ...
7
votes
3answers
456 views
Traffic light, no more shapes?
I remember when I was a kid. Each traffic lights had different shapes. Red = Square, Yellow = Triangle, Green = Circle. Now all the traffic lights that I see are round.
Is there a reason why they ...
7
votes
2answers
218 views
Do manufacturers of markers produce different shapes for each type (whiteboard/permanent) so you can tell the difference by touch?
In the sense that this is an interface with the user of pens, I thought this might be an acceptable place to ask this question, but if it's just application interfaces, then please remove or close ...
7
votes
2answers
705 views
Reason for blinking laptop power light on suspend
My HP Pavilion laptop has a power light on the switch (a slide-and-release switch). This light is off when the computer is off or hibernated, constantly on when the power is on, and it blinks when the ...
7
votes
2answers
201 views
Interesting visualizations for a personnel in-out control
I have a database with the data of all the company personnel in and out through several facilities (All people must put their fingerprint in the scanner to open doors)
I'm looking for interesting way ...
7
votes
2answers
372 views
Why are most public restroom faucets so short?
My question was inspired by this one. The majority of public restrooms have huge sinks and short faucets. When I wash my hands, most of the time I touch the back wall of the sink and that makes me ...
6
votes
3answers
948 views
What are the benefits of non-QWERTY keyboards?
I'm stuck with QWERTY, but have been tempted to try Dvorak. Dvorak advocates claim it's faster.
Are there any studies that compare these two (main) keyboard layouts? Are there other layouts out there ...
6
votes
3answers
215 views
Why is User Experience treated different in digital and physical stores?
When shopping online there is (from my experience) a well thought through design of all the steps from finding the product(s) you want and need to the check out process and purchase of the product(s). ...
