Questions tagged [physical]
For questions involving physical interfaces and interactions with "real world" objects.
293
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Do new pedestrian crossing buttons show an activated state?
I think many people are familiar with the situation of people waiting at the pedestrian crossing and repeatedly pressing (sometimes bashing) the button in the belief that it might somehow speed up the ...
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115
votes
20
answers
24k
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Toilet flush buttons
This question has been bugging me ever since I've started learning usability.
I am talking about the two buttons for the flush : Full and half container.
On one hand, the button shape has to ...
- 1,381
58
votes
9
answers
15k
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"Do Not Disturb" tags in hotels, how can they be improved?
We've seen keys being replaced by key cards, new LCD TVs, WiFi and LAN in each room but the one thing that doesn't seem to have changed is the "Do Not Disturb" tag that can be hung on the doorknob ...
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19
votes
5
answers
7k
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Why are double-handle taps still installed in households and public washrooms?
I'm wondering why double-handle faucets are still installed in sinks, bathtubs, etc in newer places of dwelling as well as public washrooms. From reading, they appear to be easier to install, but ...
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5
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Why most of the microphones are placed on the left of headsets / headphones?
I've noticed that the mayority of the well-known brands (Sennheiser, Logitech, Plantronics, Razer, SteelSeries, Audio-Technica, Phillips, etc) tend to make headsets with the microphone on the left, is ...
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1
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Why are push and twist switches more common in lamps than pull switches?
More than once, I've reached under a lampshade to turn on/off a light and had to a) search around hoping I didn't burn myself to find the switch and b) figure out which type of switch the lamp used ...
- 1,288
1
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2
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Why is the groundfloor G on some lifts, and 1 on others?
The lift at my work for example, groundfloor is '1' and the next floor up is '2' and so on.
Whereas other lifts, ground floor is 'G' and the next floor up is '1'.
Is there a reason for this ...
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28
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11
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7k
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Touchscreen devices: why did the stylus fall out of favor?
It seems to me that devices (such as navigation systems) that use a stylus for touchscreen interaction have become out of of favor. Instead most new devices are intended (i. e. larger buttons etc.) to ...
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71
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8
answers
28k
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Why do traffic lights have three separate light bulbs instead of having one?
Recently, I checked out a concept design for a traffic light with only one light.
Do you know the exact reason for having three lamps in a row, instead of one like in this concept?
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64
votes
12
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Why did early telephones use a rotary dial instead of 10 individual buttons?
I was watching a video of little kids trying to figure out how to use a rotary phone, and it was not immediately clear to any of them how the rotary mechanism was supposed to work. That got me ...
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How do blind people know where to find Braille signs?
On many occasions I have seen signs, with the equivalent in Braille underneath the text. Which is great. But what baffles me is this: how do blind people know where to find the Braille text?
I don't ...
34
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3
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The reasoning behind book dust jacket while there is a hardcover
I am wondering, what is the reason behind adding a dust jacket when a book has a hardcover as well.
Initially, the purpose seems to be obvious: to protect the hardcover below it, so that it does not ...
- 13.9k
12
votes
2
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13k
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Why do stove dials rotate from "max to min" instead of "min to max"?
Unlike microwaves, on every stove-top/oven I've used, a dial that controls the stove elements can be turned backward to click to the maximum setting, while the dial that controls the oven temperature, ...
- 441
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3
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Is there a standard for the positioning of the elevator control buttons?
I've always wondered why elevator control buttons are found where they are. For example, the following image shows the elevator control buttons positioned on the right side.
The way I see it, people ...
- 121
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public transit bus stop and door buttons
Not directly software related, I wonder about UX design in public transit busses.
In Germany, some time ago there was a simple system in public transit busses: If the bus was quite empty, and no one ...
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5
answers
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What's the optimal seat arrangement for a self-driving car?
Take your average mid-sized sedan layout (though this is the view of an SUV, it should illustrate the idea for anyone who has never been in a car before.):
You have a driver's seat and a passenger's ...
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5
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Volume controls: Why is left down and right up?
I see a lot of people discuss the order of buttons (e.g., should OK be on the left and cancel on the right? or submit button on the left or right?) but something that I wonder:
Why do volume ...
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7
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Why do some cars have the fuel door on the passenger's side?
Many cars, such as the BMW M3 pictured below, have their fuel door on the passenger's side of the car.
I do not understand the reasoning behind placing the fuel door opposite the driver; placing it ...
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votes
4
answers
891
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Thermostat UIs make me guess and think too hard
Every digital thermostat panel I've come across - just HORRENDOUS!
There's a temperature display. Fine.
There's an up and down arrow. First thought, it's to change the temperature. Good.
There's the ...
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2
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Why are TV bezels there?
Isn't it true that LCD display units only have ribbon wirings on their bottom (or any one side)? So, this should leave the other sides from covering up their edges, shouldn't it? I have read somewhere ...
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Why AMBULANCE is written as ECNALUBMA on emergency vehicles?
Why is AMBULANCE sometimes mirror written on emergency vehicles ?
- 77
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523
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Do you know any good source for human-robot interactions?
"In most cases, user experience design (UX or UXD or UED) fully encompasses traditional human-computer interaction (HCI) design, and extends it by addressing all aspects of a product or service as ...
- 5,571
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3
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352
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Is it a good idea to set a different signal for performing a u-turn?
For a long time, I wondered why is there not a separate indication to signify a u-turn, e.g. the rear lights would have two segments for flickering lights - one spaced on top of the other - as to ...
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Is there any attempt to standardize a "cancel" action in elevator buttons?
I live in a country where only a few (I've heard of 2 or 3) elevators has the option to toggle back a pressed button in order to cancel the request. Of course, I'm waiting for all elevator buttons ...
- 233
2
votes
1
answer
147
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How to make microwaves meals easier to empty [closed]
There seems to be a problem with the common way to deliver a microwave meal.
From a flat, compartmentalised tray contents must be tipped or spooned onto a plate in order to be eaten. If there are two ...
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331
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Why do most public buses and trains have a uniform chair height? [closed]
Given that different people have different heights, there seems to be for myself no reason why every chair in a bus has the same height.
There could be different rows with different height and in an ...
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48
votes
11
answers
18k
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Why don't chinese teacups have handles
I am mystified over the difference between an English tea cup and a Chinese tea cup. The difference is that a chinese teacup does not have a handle/"ear" while an English teacup does have a handle/"...
- 1,496
263
votes
16
answers
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Why do washing machines have windows?
I'm curious why every front-loaded washing machine I've seen so far comes with a window, while other household machines, like dishwashers, don't.
From a design or UI/UX perspective, why would one ...
- 2,488
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7
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Why electric car windows can be automatic for driver's window and manual for others?
I'm European and I don't understand the logic behind electric car windows commands.
In a lot of cars, a driver can fully open the electric window on his side with a single push. But if he wants to ...
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answers
3k
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Why do department stores create bad experiences with escalators?
In my local department store (House of Fraser, High Wycombe, UK) there are 3 floors with escalators in the middle of the store.
It drives me a little bit crazy, because the direction the escalators ...
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1
vote
1
answer
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Best practices for hardware keyboard input on tablet
I'm creating a form Android tablet app that will be used connected to a physical keyboard. The goal is to help users quickly fill out forms while visiting our conference booth. The tablets will be ...
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2
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2
answers
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Do large format books make a substantial improvement?
In the last several years I've seen larger format books alongside the familiar pocket paperbacks. Sometimes these are taller, sometimes they are wider, and sometimes both. I've wound up with these in ...
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4
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Why is there a contradiction between red in software and in workshop hardware?
If we often use red in software to warn someone to think before interacting with something, like a delete button for example, why do serious power tools like circular bench saws have big red buttons ...
- 7,818
13
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3
answers
7k
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Why do keyboard keys have (most) letters in top left corner?
I was just looking at my keyboard (Logitech K200) for the millionth time and realized that the names of each key were "mostly" in the top left. The row of numbers at the top is just left aligned with ...
- 233
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Toilet paper orientation [closed]
In surveys of American consumers and of bath and kitchen specialists, 60–70% of respondents prefer over.
What are the primary experience factors that lead a majority of users to choose over?
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5
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Why are normal water coolers so low?
A lot of water coolers look like this:
You usually have to bend down in order to place your glass under the spigot and fill it, which is annoying it if you're doing it more than a few times a day, ...
- 583
4
votes
5
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339
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Would a 'Processing' indicator on pedestrian crossing controls be helpful - and if so how would it be designed?
Pedestrian Crossings used to be simple things where you pressed a button and light went on saying 'wait' and then you waited until the red man turned to a green man.
However, modern crossings in the ...
- 11.2k
3
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1
answer
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Why are switches with light indicator common but outlets are not?
Wall mount light switches that have a neat light indicator that turns on when the switch is in "off" position are quite common. The purpose is to make finding the switch in the dark easier.
Looks ...
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31
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13
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4k
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Real-life UX: What's wrong with our coffee maker?
At Stack Exchange, we have a very expensive espresso machine - professional quality.
However, we are having a persistent, companywide problem with its use.
It seems that after using the wand to ...
- 2,315
25
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5
answers
11k
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Why do public restrooms place the paper holders so low?
Most public restrooms that I've used (in the US) place the paper holder very low, with the bottom of the roll (where you can grab the paper) below knee level when seated. This is not true in the ...
- 3,702
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Shower Controls
Having recently stayed in a hotel where the shower controls required the user to first pour cold water over themselves before it was possible to turn the control to the warm position:
I wondered ...
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3
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UI for dimming light
What is the best / natural UI (User Interface) for dimming multiple lighting zones (LEDs) using a microcontroller?
Here is what I have thought so far
Use rotary encoder to up/dn the brightness
Use ...
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9
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Is a book more user friendly than an e-book?
Lately I've had this thought that books were more user friendly than applications. Why do I say that? Because of these reasons:
You can visibly see, at a given time where you are and how much you ...
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3
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3k
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What is the psychology behind road markings on lanes unaffected by speed cameras?
In the UK, speed cameras are usually accompanied by white striped lines on the road. I have always assumed that was a visual reminder to the motorist to "watch your speed- it's about to be checked".
...
- 3,014
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Why do electric fan knobs often place the highest setting right after the off position?
Electric fans are often controlled by a knob which the user turns to power the fan on or off, and control the fan's speed.
On a lot of fans, the knob goes immediately from the off position to the ...
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3k
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Method for usability testing of physical products
I am looking for a methodology for interaction testing of a physical product / interface.
I am thinking something like expert testing (Heuristics) but just not for digital interfaces. Are there any ...
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2
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Organising Spices for Cooking
In my kitchen I use a variety of spices, both powders and loose whole spices, numbering maybe 30 or 40 individual ingredients. Each one needs to be kept separate and reasonably well sealed while also ...
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Transparent resin casting vs. solid metal color
I am designing an electronics circuit (gps-tracker/recorder) that I would like to cast in a material for durability and aesthetics, as pictured. I may decide to sell it at some point.
It would be ...
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How could petrol forecourts be designed to improve efficiency?
I am always shocked when I go to a petrol station. The layout- in the UK, at least- seems to be fairly standard. But it always seems to me to be incredibly inefficient.
These are the issues:
When ...
- 3,014
65
votes
14
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6k
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How could you prevent users from leaving their original copy in the photocopier?
I've done this myself on many occasions, even though I know it's a common mistake I need to watch out for.
The steps seem to go as follows (with typical thoughts in brackets):
Walk up to photocopier ...
- 3,014