23 August 2007

Bad Designs!

I really like the new area, love the house, and am thrilled with the assignment (getting paid to learn? Are you kidding me? Does it get any better?)

But my house is haunted by several instances of Bad Design.

The built-in microwave, for example. I have to push the "cook time" button, then turn a knob (?!?!) which advances the time in 15 second increments. Apparently I'm not allowed to cook something for 10 seconds. Nope, it's gotta be 15 seconds. Then I push the knob to "select" the cook time. Then I push the start button. Figures the microwave is built-in...

I needed to adjust the hot water heater temperature. That meant cutting the power to the water heater, then unscrewing two different panels, both of which were held in place by phillips head screws. Underneath the panels, apparently next to high voltage lines, was a flathead screw I could turn to adjust the temp. At our old place, there was just a knob... Oh, and it's not like it's an old heater. It was installed in 2005.

There are others, but the Colbert Report is on...
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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Dan: I think you are doing incredibly well, and you've 'fought the good fight with the Dryer vent' and you seem to have won.... Now, I'm just your Dad, but I would give some thought to just getting rid of the 'built in microwave' and paying the extra bucks on a new 'built in microwave' that at the very least had butttons that did what you wanted it do.... in 1 or 2 steps not 3 or 4... only a thought..... Dad

21:30
Anonymous said...

I'd say, listen to your dad!! :)

07:11
Dan said...

Yeah, we'll probably remove/replace it too... And we've got a perfectly good, well-designed table-top microwave (currently in the basement).

I just don't understand how/why anyone would design a user interface like that, which takes so many steps and puts so many restrictions on the user.

07:23

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