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Previous: Floor signs at the Getty parking structure | Main | Next: 'www' abbreviation
November 11, 2005 12:03 AM
Broken: Toilet door on train
Nic Price of beatnic asks:
How do you know it's locked?
So are 'Open' 'Close' and 'Press' Buttons? Do they light up? Definitely broken as it makes NO sense.
what happened to just a simple deadbolt lock? Broken...Because it requires a brain cell in order to use the john. You'd think it shouldn't.
I particularly like that there is a button you press labeled "Close". Hmmm, must be one of those new-aged self closing doors like in Star Trek (and even those worked more like a grocery store door, but I'd assume a train doesnt have the kind of space for doors like that).
And there's no intuitive way to unlock the door, either....
Maybe there's no way to unlock the door, period :)
This is so broken on so many levels-
a. there is a total lack of intuitive interface being conveyed by the buttons, they make no sense.
b. if the average person cannot decipher the clues given by the design object it fails- the book the design of everyday things gives many examples of bad design like this- they lack feedback, logic and are making the desired action more difficult as opposed to assisting the user.
c. if you have to think this hard to use a john on a train then there are some larger broken issues going on. on a personal note- the mta trains for metro north have manual controls that are vague but usable and effective- you know when youve locked the door- because it gives a visual and tactile response.
design is being ruined by overcomplication-
It's broken all right, and what's also broken is calling toilets johns. We fought long and hard for the privilege of having prostitutes' customers named after us. Calling toilets johns is an insult to all johns everywhere.
using a john in any context should not entail a long thought process. Both uses of the word being applicable-
Perhaps you are missing the point. Are the buttons not made of metal? How are they to be illuminated? Riddle me this, Batman.
Well, I guess you press the 'Lock' button to lock it, and 'Open' to open it. If you're not sure if it's locked or not punch the button a few more times for good measure.
I think the 'illuminated' part is a little misleading, unless the picture makes plastic buttons look like metal.
I assume that it is a pneumatic sliding door like doors between train cars. My question is why have a lock button? If the door is closed from the inside that should keep the open button from working on the outside. With further thought I see a problem of someone playing a prank by quickly sliding out the door after pressing close and locking it forever. That is why there has to be a lock button that only works after the door is fully closed.
I stared at this all day and finally figured it out. Look carefully and notice that "When Illuminated" is closer to the bottom button than the middle one. Thus, it, and the 'To Lock' are part of the bottom button section, which says "When Illuminated, Press To Lock". The top two buttons share the word "Door" because it is exactly in the middle between them and thus read "Open Door" and "Door Close".
But what's really broken is you have to stick your finger in a hole to open the door and that hole has been pressed by the 90% of bathroom users who don't wipe after taking a #2.
to J. Scott - You looked at this all day?!?!
Were you on LSD or something?
What do you do for income?
LMAO
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Previous: Floor signs at the Getty parking structure | Main | Next: 'www' abbreviation
maybe im just tired, but i dont get it.
Posted by: gmangw at November 11, 2005 12:42 AM