Showing posts with label Human factors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Human factors. Show all posts

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Toaster Oven

Does one really need 3 knobs to make toast?

I don't like our new toaster oven. All 3 knobs have to be set correctly to make toast.

I hate appliances that stereotype. I know, I know...it's hypocritical of me to say I hate ALL appliances that stereotype ... but the toaster oven started it...

If you look closely, you'll notice the instructions: "Rotate knob past 10 then set to desired time". WTF!? What if you want to set it for 5 minutes? You have to rotate it past 10 and then back to 5?! The designers of this toaster need to read Kim Vincente's The Human Factor. It was a problem like this that led to the Chernobyl disaster.

So I have to rotate past 10...but wait. What does it say at the bottom en francais? "Tourner le bouton jusqu'a depasser la position 20 puis regler le temps desire"

Which is it? 10 or 20? Does toaster oven treat me different if I'm french?

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