Oops! I did it again, and again - capture error. An everyday things post

I got a new tube of stuff for the bathroom yesterday. This morning, I blearily opened it and it was one of the caps that had a spike on the end to break the foil seal of the tube.

This should have been a 'no brainer'. I put the cap on and it kept falling off.

Look (see right) , it seems straight forward, am i just having a morning moment pre-coffee?


I stopped and examined the cap in more detail. I got a surprise. That screw cap went against all other tube caps I had ever seen (gasp, quel horreur!). The screw cap 'mechanism' was actually reversed. The narrow end was actually where the thread or 'working bits' screwed on to the tube.

Armed with that realization, I made another attempt, but saw my self putting the wider end on first and turning. What? eh? I consciously knew the that this was a screw cap in reverse, and I had fully intended to turn the cap around. However i kept trying to put the wider end on first and turn it before I 'caught' myself.

I then realized that I had fallen prey to 'capture error'. This is a phenomenon where an habitual behavior is so ingrained, trying to do a slight variation on it, you'll default to the habitual pattern despite consciously intending to do other wise. E.g. You get in the car to drive to tennis only to discover you're on the way to work. Then I finally got the cap, on feeling amused and slightly foolish. I got my coffee and had to chuckle that I was thinking about how such an inconsequential product design change affected the experience and on what rational grounds you would have to do it (if it ain't broke etc etc).

Did some sales meeting have a crisis moving the product? Did product designer wake up one day and think 'I know, change the cap'. Rad!

Everyday things - appealing information architecuture.

I took this photo at a cafe in Rotorua. Looking up idly I saw this on the ceiling. It was paw prints on the ceiling leading from the door to the counter. Following the paws around, I saw that they led to the water dispenser and also the bathrooms. Handy if you are looking around a room for cues for important/key areas.

The fact it was leveraging off your field of vision whilst sitting down was very clever and 'on brand' with the 'Fat dog cafe' moniker.

Fortunately the counter to order is in proximity to the front door, so you don't have to look up as you walk in (Not that you'd know to) .. Paws for thought :)

Everyday things - Real world Information Architecture.

I went to an electronics store to look for a headset. 'Headset', 'Telephony' , 'Telephones', 'PC accessories' were terms on my mind as I looked. The corresponding store section and shelf labels that sounded close to my 'keywords' did not have headsets.

Annoyed I started walk around the store at every shelf for 'content'. Here is where I found headsets.

Store content labeling is as important as website labeling. Why make me look all around the store/website till i found the content/item i wanted. If the label had been close to some of the 'Keywords' in my mind or related to my goal, I would have got there a lot faster.

Store taxonomies are as important as websites. On the bright side of this shopping experience it made me think again of the parallels between store section and shelf labels akin to the first and second level navigation on a website (and the need for good information architecture process and validation).

I wonder if department stores and malls 'taxonomy test' shoppers around a store/mall space...That would be cool to plan, run and observe..does anyone want that done? Or even get me to test a winery trail?

usability issues in real time. Putting controls in proximity to what they affect.

Even on holiday I had a usability moment ...
I stayed at a hotel in Rotorua. I was given a mechanical key and swipe card. My hotel room was opened by the key. So i went to the mineral pool, and headed for the door. My eye zeroed in on the signage, door handle and lock. My key didn't work. Looking around the door frame, zilch cues
.
Stepping back I finally saw this..

see the next pic ...






There was a metal box on the outer wall of the door. out of curiosity I placed the swipe card in front of it. Lo and behold, the door unlocked. Looking in, it was not so appealing so I went to the Polynesian Pools next door instead.

User testing, not just for labs

I watched some other hotel guests do the exact same thing, it was defacto usability testing. I saw enough of a sample of guests zero in on the mechanical lock, eventually notice the key card control (with no labels) and try it or walk to reception for help. Guests were probably conditioned by the same experience checking in and getting into their rooms. The lack of proximity and signposting of the actual access control also did not help.

So, put controls close to the area they effect, label them appropriately or signpost to the user in the area of attention they hit first if its not possible to put controls there. Signpost controls where the user is most likely to 'land'/look first. Physical spaces and work flows need user experience love too.

Everyday things.. lifts/elevators

DO DC - what are these?

well ?

Door open Door Close.... but how would you know. Do you have time to stop and think about it? Surely you could just print words 'Open' and 'Close' or use icons. Engineers of the 60's/70's have a lot to answer for...