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One of the most interesting/unique user interfaces for a train ticket machine I have used in a long time are ones you still occasionally see in French train sta
by phist_mcgee 4y ago
One of the most interesting/unique user interfaces for a train ticket machine I have used in a long time are ones you still occasionally see in French train stations [1].
Rather than a touch screen or buttons, you use a wheel much like the original ipod. To select an item you rotate the wheel, and then to confirm that selection you press the center button.
After a few times using it, I actually came to love its simplicity, you could scrub through train stations incredibly quickly, and with just those buttons (and a cancel button) you could complete the whole process of buying a ticket in less than 30 seconds.
Sadly, I think these machines are on the way out.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdjdsD1lWS8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdjdsD1lWS8
- qwezxcrty 4y agoI agree it's a nice interface after getting used to, but it was confusing like hell when it's my first time...
- phist_mcgee 4y agoYou see every single person press the screen at least once if they've never used it. Dominant ux pattern and all.
- jtvjan 4y agoIn Paris, they had machines with a large vertical bar that you could roll to make a selection[1]. I found them much more comfortable to use than the newer(?) machines with a touch screen. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk5m3g-4Wqk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk5m3g-4Wqk
- bradlys 4y agoThe ones I’ve seen in Paris don’t use a wheel but instead use a hefty metal roller. It’s a bit unintuitive at first because it looks so weird.