Jiri’s Notepad

Armed corkscrew and disposable nappies are some of the most usable products according to a survey carried out by User Vision:

The research asked 500 consumers to rate in terms of usefulness a range of everyday products and services developed over the past two decades which have made difficult, inefficient, inconvenient or time-consuming tasks easier. Armed corkscrews and disposable nappies topped the list, followed by TV remote controls, central locking on cars and gas barbecues.

Push button telephones came sixth in the survey, followed by electric screwdrivers, electric toothbrushes, compact broadsheet newspapers and ready-tied bow ties. Other popular usability breakthroughs included self-cleaning ovens, Velcro shoes, hair straighteners and a variety of web-based services including online banking and shopping.

On the other hand, UK Chip & PIN scheme, where PIN technology replaces old-school credit card receipt signature, is not seen in a positive light:

The research also asked respondents to name innovations which were intended to make life easier but actually had the opposite effect. Automated call centre phone systems proved an extremely popular choice, along with ‘Pay at Pump’ petrol stations, digital-control washing machines and self-scan supermarket tills. The modern day issue of having to remember a plethora of passwords and PIN numbers was also a common frustration for consumers, with many mentioning ‘Chip & PIN’ as an example of an innovation which has made life more complicated for this reason.