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subtle usability goof
21 March 2005 13:52Our microwave died a few days ago, so we got a new one. It apparently works fine; all the features we've tested do just what they should. But . . .
I'm rather tall (6'3" or so). When the microwave is sitting on our kitchen counter and I'm standing in front of it, I can't read the display. This is simply because the front of the display/control panel has a gratuitous concave curve, which causes it to project out slightly at the top and bottom. The projection at the top is just sufficient such that I can't see the display without crouching somewhat.
Most people (at a guess, anyone shorter than 5'10" or so) are not going to have this problem. But unlike the Legroom Problem (that is, what I have on airlines and in many cars), this design choice wasn't constrained by resource or economic considerations: it is purely cosmetic.
Memo to (future) industrial designers: if you are contemplating a cosmetically-inspired design change, don't simply assume that it won't have any impact on usability.
I'm rather tall (6'3" or so). When the microwave is sitting on our kitchen counter and I'm standing in front of it, I can't read the display. This is simply because the front of the display/control panel has a gratuitous concave curve, which causes it to project out slightly at the top and bottom. The projection at the top is just sufficient such that I can't see the display without crouching somewhat.
Most people (at a guess, anyone shorter than 5'10" or so) are not going to have this problem. But unlike the Legroom Problem (that is, what I have on airlines and in many cars), this design choice wasn't constrained by resource or economic considerations: it is purely cosmetic.
Memo to (future) industrial designers: if you are contemplating a cosmetically-inspired design change, don't simply assume that it won't have any impact on usability.
