In lists.community.perlmongers.london, you wrote:
>On Fri, Oct 19, 2001 at 04:15:34PM -0400, Kirrily Robert wrote:
>
>> (where else can you read about the (mis-)design of common objects like
>> light switches and stovetops?)
>
>Do you mean the little diagrams telling you which ring you're turning
>on? I always manage to get the left and right part correct, but I seem
>to muddle the front and back at least 75% of the time, even when I
>deliberately do the opposite, knowing that I'm normally wrong.
>
>Or do you mean something else, and this is just my personal mental
>block?
Exactly as you described.
Many stovetops are shaped like this:
/~~~~\ /~~~~\
| | | |
\____/ \____/
/~~~~\ /~~~~\
| | | |
\____/ \____/
Then you see a row of knobs next to it like this:
/~~~~\ /~~~~\
| | | | o
\____/ \____/ o
o
/~~~~\ /~~~~\ o
| | | |
\____/ \____/
Which knobs relate to which burners? Who knows. You have to read the
labels to figure it out.
Here's a better solution, but one which is (alas) seldom seen:
/~~~~\ /~~~~\
| | | |
\____/ \____/
o o
/~~~~\ /~~~~\ o o
| | | |
\____/ \____/
Now imagine a whole book made up of examples like this, with analysis of
each one and a discussion of the theory behind it all. Everything from
light switches to doorknobs to alarm clocks.
Wonderful stuff, as I said.
K.
--
Kirrily 'Skud' Robert - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - http://infotrope.net/
"I am most recovered given that i won't kill and eat them."
-- Megahal (trained on asr) 2000-01-30
