5 ms·

Bad design is everywhere... My old microwave oven had one control, a dial. Just put the food in and turn it. The whole dial represented 12 minutes, so just e

by edw519 17y ago

Bad design is everywhere... My old microwave oven had one control, a dial. Just put the food in and turn it. The whole dial represented 12 minutes, so just estimate how far to turn it. My new microwave has 22 buttons. I forget which is which. I have to turn on the lights and get my glasses. The previous owner installed vertical blinds on the double hung windows. Think about that. Impossible to have open windows without endless noise and movement. An office where I work is near an airport. They have a key card system that beeps with a successful swipe. So you can't hear the beep when an airplane is passing overhead (every 5 minutes) and have to wait until it's gone to get into the building. Another office has "gone green" and installed motion sensors everywhere to turn off lights not being used. Good luck finishing up in the restroom if you've been sitting too long. Some of my software asks "Save before exit?" whether I've changed anything or not. I got so tired of trying to remember if I had updated or only viewed, I just click "Yes" every time. Pointless. Every time the garbage truck drops the dumpster back down next door, 3 car alarms go off. No one ever responds, because they assume that it's a false alarm. Not that big a deal until the garbage truck shows up at 4:00 a.m. on Saturday. My TV remote has 33 buttons. So they're so small, you have to stop and look at it to hit "Mute" or "Last Channel", the only 2 buttons I ever use. Who designed this thing, a munchkin? The airports in Orlando, Philadelphia, San Jose, and Miami put the restaurants (not counting junk food) outside of security. So you have to wonder, "Do I have enough time to eat and then get through the line?" (Pittsburgh, Tampa, and Chicago Midway did it right.) The trunk release and gas cap release levers in my car are next to each other but not visible. It's hard to pull one without the other. Seems like my gas cap door is always open. A theater we went to the other night only had aisles on the sides with 50 seats in between. Do your really want that great seat in the center knowing you may have to climb over 25 people if you need the restroom before the movie is over? Intersections that gridlock because of traffic from the next light. Too many to mention. Microsoft Windows.

dan_sim 17y ago
> Microsoft Windows. hahaha! (I know I will be down-voted for that comment but I'm ready to risk 4 karma points to display my appreciation of that last point)
amalcon 17y ago
I saw a new microwave with a dial on it. You need to press a button, turn the dial, and then press twice on the dial to actually cook something. They can only have been deliberately trying to confuse people.
jodrellblank 17y ago
Bad design is everywhere. I am typing on an Apple keyboard because the key feel is nice. The machined aluminium and white keys add a touch of quality to my desk. The scruffy A4 notebook it sits on to counter the uncomfortable and unconfigurable propped-up-at-the-back tilt spoils it slightly. Vista. When I need a new PPTP connection, I open "Network Connections" (where PPTP connections are listed), then go looking for File -> New (which doesn't exist), then File -> Connect which is greyed out and irrelevant, I glance longingly at at the temptress of File -> New Incoming Connection which is available - if only it was for Outgoing connections - then try Right Click -> New..., which also doesn't exist. After cursing for a bit I remember to go to the Network And Sharing Center (where PPTP connections are not listed) and click "Connect to Network". Am I the only PuTTY user who opens it, connects to a host, types the wrong username and then gets annoyed when on a failed login it only re-prompts for a password, not for both username and password?
- singlow 17y ago
  I guess that PuTTY could be excused since that is more related to the SSH login sequence. It doesn't really matter which SSH tool you are using, that basic annoyance will be there. But when you are using the ssh command from a bash prompt, it is less work to cancel and start over than it is to reopen putty. If you are opening a connection that is not saved in your session list, you might consider choosing "Duplicate Session" from the window menu at the top left and avoid retyping the server address in the putty dialog. The annoying thing is that the "Restart Session" command is not available when the connection is still open, so you will need to close the dysfunctional one after launching the duplicate. If it is a saved session, you can store the user name under Connection->Data so that you do not need to type it on each launch.
- blasdel 17y ago
  PuTTY is just an awful piece of software in general: they take all the SSH options, rename them, and rearrange them into a bizarre menu structure with an obtuse session-saving system that reminds me of the horror of HyperTerm. Install Cygwin, and use OpenSSH from your shell in MinTTY (which uses the PuTTY's terminal emulator implementation, but doesn't fuck up the UI and adds all the missing options).
alexsolo 17y ago
TV remotes are famously bad, like you said. I think a good solution would be to use a Wii-like remote, that just has a handful of buttons on it. Put the common options (volume, on/off, last channel, menu) on the remote, and everything else as an on-screen menu, which you would point to with the Wii-mote.
- jodrellblank 17y ago
  The wii mote grates on me - there I am holding a device with buttons, with up/down/left/right buttons, and not only that, but with a directionless bluetooth connection instead of infra-red and what do I need to do to choose menu items? Hold it up in a place where it can see the TV(!), accurately point to a few square centimeters half a room away, and then press a button on the device anyway.
  - alexsolo 17y ago
    You make a very good point: not everybody has a large screen TV. Also, the Wii-mote has accessibility problems: while it may be great for gamers, it's not so good for people with limited dexterity. Maybe using a scroll-wheel, like the one on the iPod, would be a better solution. You'd be able to quickly scroll through on-screen options with the wheel.
  - whatusername 17y ago
    Once in-game that can change.. I always use the up/down/left/right buttons in the menus for Mario Kart for example. But some games don't have that - and it's annoying in the base of the OS itself.
dhimes 17y ago
Some of my software asks "Save before exit?" whether I've changed anything or not Ooops. I made some like that.
DLWormwood 17y ago
> The airports in Orlando, Philadelphia, San Jose, and Miami put the restaurants (not counting junk food) outside of security. So you have to wonder, "Do I have enough time to eat and then get through the line?" (Pittsburgh, Tampa, and Chicago Midway did it right.) This looks like there's three trade-offs to putting restaurants in the secure zone: - If a group is traveling together, and only a member or two is taking a flight, putting the restaurants behind security will prevent the group from dining together. - Put restaurants behind security will lock out local customers who live/work near the airport, but not actually needing to fly. In my experience, some restaurant chains will make better or more interesting locations at high traffic areas than more "locally" focused places. - Finally, putting these places behind security will increase potential bottlenecks in the way system, since now more employees will need to be monitored or tracked. Even with IDs and extra employee-only entrances, the increased chances of something going wrong with a forged ID, vengeful or absentminded employee, or "hidden" entrance increases risk of exposure to a terminal shut down event.
- hallmark 17y ago
  With respect, I would hardly ever think of going to an overpriced airport restaurant if I had other local choices near my work. Keeping them behind security where they can properly service hungry travelers seems right to me.
  - mickt 17y ago
    Ok, how about this for poor food choices. US bound flights from Dublin Airport pre-clear US immigration in their own mini-departure lounge which has one wee cafe. Last time I was there I went to grab some sandwiches to eat on the plane. The only choice they had were egg or tuna. Egg or tuna on a plane? Sheesh, give me a break, both will stink, and one will make you fart. Now who thought that would be a good combo for people getting on a plane?
- mickt 17y ago
  What about the poor staving traveler stuck behind security? If you have an hour or more layover it's nice to have a decent meal if your hungry. If you have to leave the departure area and then go through security again, a meal may not be possible. The last thing I want to deal with is hungry cranky travelers.
steveklabnik 17y ago
> The airports in Orlando, Philadelphia, San Jose, and Miami put the restaurants (not counting junk food) outside of security. So you have to wonder, "Do I have enough time to eat and then get through the line?" (Pittsburgh, Tampa, and Chicago Midway did it right.) Other fun thing about the way we do it here in Pittsburgh, though: If you go to TGI Friday's and get a steak... they give you a steak knife. Makes me really appreciate the hassle of going through the huge security process.

by edw519 17y ago

dan_sim 17y ago

> Microsoft Windows. hahaha! (I know I will be down-voted for that comment but I'm ready to risk 4 karma points to display my appreciation of that last point)

amalcon 17y ago

I saw a new microwave with a dial on it. You need to press a button, turn the dial, and then press twice on the dial to actually cook something. They can only have been deliberately trying to confuse people.

jodrellblank 17y ago

Bad design is everywhere. I am typing on an Apple keyboard because the key feel is nice. The machined aluminium and white keys add a touch of quality to my desk. The scruffy A4 notebook it sits on to counter the uncomfortable and unconfigurable propped-up-at-the-back tilt spoils it slightly. Vista. When I need a new PPTP connection, I open "Network Connections" (where PPTP connections are listed), then go looking for File -> New (which doesn't exist), then File -> Connect which is greyed out and irrelevant, I glance longingly at at the temptress of File -> New Incoming Connection which is available - if only it was for Outgoing connections - then try Right Click -> New..., which also doesn't exist. After cursing for a bit I remember to go to the Network And Sharing Center (where PPTP connections are not listed) and click "Connect to Network". Am I the only PuTTY user who opens it, connects to a host, types the wrong username and then gets annoyed when on a failed login it only re-prompts for a password, not for both username and password?

singlow 17y ago
I guess that PuTTY could be excused since that is more related to the SSH login sequence. It doesn't really matter which SSH tool you are using, that basic annoyance will be there. But when you are using the ssh command from a bash prompt, it is less work to cancel and start over than it is to reopen putty. If you are opening a connection that is not saved in your session list, you might consider choosing "Duplicate Session" from the window menu at the top left and avoid retyping the server address in the putty dialog. The annoying thing is that the "Restart Session" command is not available when the connection is still open, so you will need to close the dysfunctional one after launching the duplicate. If it is a saved session, you can store the user name under Connection->Data so that you do not need to type it on each launch.
blasdel 17y ago
PuTTY is just an awful piece of software in general: they take all the SSH options, rename them, and rearrange them into a bizarre menu structure with an obtuse session-saving system that reminds me of the horror of HyperTerm. Install Cygwin, and use OpenSSH from your shell in MinTTY (which uses the PuTTY's terminal emulator implementation, but doesn't fuck up the UI and adds all the missing options).

alexsolo 17y ago

TV remotes are famously bad, like you said. I think a good solution would be to use a Wii-like remote, that just has a handful of buttons on it. Put the common options (volume, on/off, last channel, menu) on the remote, and everything else as an on-screen menu, which you would point to with the Wii-mote.

jodrellblank 17y ago
The wii mote grates on me - there I am holding a device with buttons, with up/down/left/right buttons, and not only that, but with a directionless bluetooth connection instead of infra-red and what do I need to do to choose menu items? Hold it up in a place where it can see the TV(!), accurately point to a few square centimeters half a room away, and then press a button on the device anyway.
- alexsolo 17y ago
  You make a very good point: not everybody has a large screen TV. Also, the Wii-mote has accessibility problems: while it may be great for gamers, it's not so good for people with limited dexterity. Maybe using a scroll-wheel, like the one on the iPod, would be a better solution. You'd be able to quickly scroll through on-screen options with the wheel.
- whatusername 17y ago
  Once in-game that can change.. I always use the up/down/left/right buttons in the menus for Mario Kart for example. But some games don't have that - and it's annoying in the base of the OS itself.

dhimes 17y ago

Some of my software asks "Save before exit?" whether I've changed anything or not Ooops. I made some like that.

DLWormwood 17y ago

> The airports in Orlando, Philadelphia, San Jose, and Miami put the restaurants (not counting junk food) outside of security. So you have to wonder, "Do I have enough time to eat and then get through the line?" (Pittsburgh, Tampa, and Chicago Midway did it right.) This looks like there's three trade-offs to putting restaurants in the secure zone: - If a group is traveling together, and only a member or two is taking a flight, putting the restaurants behind security will prevent the group from dining together. - Put restaurants behind security will lock out local customers who live/work near the airport, but not actually needing to fly. In my experience, some restaurant chains will make better or more interesting locations at high traffic areas than more "locally" focused places. - Finally, putting these places behind security will increase potential bottlenecks in the way system, since now more employees will need to be monitored or tracked. Even with IDs and extra employee-only entrances, the increased chances of something going wrong with a forged ID, vengeful or absentminded employee, or "hidden" entrance increases risk of exposure to a terminal shut down event.

hallmark 17y ago
With respect, I would hardly ever think of going to an overpriced airport restaurant if I had other local choices near my work. Keeping them behind security where they can properly service hungry travelers seems right to me.
- mickt 17y ago
  Ok, how about this for poor food choices. US bound flights from Dublin Airport pre-clear US immigration in their own mini-departure lounge which has one wee cafe. Last time I was there I went to grab some sandwiches to eat on the plane. The only choice they had were egg or tuna. Egg or tuna on a plane? Sheesh, give me a break, both will stink, and one will make you fart. Now who thought that would be a good combo for people getting on a plane?
mickt 17y ago
What about the poor staving traveler stuck behind security? If you have an hour or more layover it's nice to have a decent meal if your hungry. If you have to leave the departure area and then go through security again, a meal may not be possible. The last thing I want to deal with is hungry cranky travelers.

steveklabnik 17y ago