Things that piss me off # 27: Bad Design

[andrewducker]

We have a free coffee-like-sludge machine which produces a range of different drinks in various shades of brown. It also produces water, both hot and cold. In order to cater to those people who like different textures of grit in their coffee it has buttons marked "mild", "normal" and "strong". Once you have chosen your particular kind of drink (coffee, espresso, chocolate) you then press one of these buttons to show how macho/tired/masochistic you are currently feeling.

What annoys me is a particularly bad piece of design - the machine pauses for approximately three seconds to allow you to choose your drink strength - and it does so _even if you choose water_. In fact, choosing a strength for your water means the machine stops waiting and starts pouring, so pressing "Water", "Normal" gives you a drink without the wait.

Repeated experimentation has so-far shown no difference in taste between mild and strong water, but it's possible that sufficient exposure will eventually sensitise me to whatever subtle piquancy divides them.

Comments

[octopoid-horror.livejournal.com]

How is it in Dilbert-land?

I presume it's hard and soft water. Try using them to "wash" things (wikipedia can help you on technique, if necessary) and see how it goes...

Although if one is heavy water, be concerned.

[slammerkinbabe.livejournal.com]

You need some blind taste tests for it, I think.

Of possible interest..

[sttatus-quo.livejournal.com]

If you're a fan of design, you might be interested in this article that was presented yesterday about designer Viktor Schreckengost which was done on the occasion of his hundredth birthday.
The link to the article (audio and text) is here. I thought it was rather interesting.

Re: Of possible interest..

[andrewducker]

Fascinating - thanks!

Re: Of possible interest..

[stillcarl.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. The comment about his bike reminded me of the two boys from America at our school (in New Zealand) who had brought their US bikes with them - which may or may not have been Murray Mercurys, but did look like them. We rode proper British-made bikes such as Raleighs and considered theirs to be girls' bikes...

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

That is funny :-)

[a-pawson.livejournal.com]

You should print up some stickers and cover over the "mild", "normal" and "strong" buttons with "normal", "heavy" and "possibly fusable".

[wychwood]

The machine at my old work *required* you to press a strength button. I used to insist on strong water, much to the amusement of drinks-fetching colleagues.

[odheirre.livejournal.com]

The weak water is, well, watered down.

[channelpenguin.livejournal.com]

bloody programmers....

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

This has often annoyed me. Going for a round of drinks takes twice as long as it used to with the old faithful machines. Even if you press the strebngth buttion immediately it pauses, then the long delay whilst it resets itself before you choose the next drink. Everyone in my area drinks water so I often ponder ti'd be quicker to pop into the ladies and put a tap on!

[andrewducker]

I have been debating getting a water filter, to save the number of bottles of water I go through.