Blog - Michael Herring » Usability http://michaelherring.net/blog Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:18:25 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 New York DOT Unveils Sidewalk Compass Markings http://michaelherring.net/blog/2007/10/20/new-york-dot-unveils-sidewalk-compass-markings/ http://michaelherring.net/blog/2007/10/20/new-york-dot-unveils-sidewalk-compass-markings/#comments Sat, 20 Oct 2007 19:38:30 +0000 Michael http://michaelherringdesign.com/blog/2007/10/20/new-york-dot-unveils-sidewalk-compass-markings/ These sidewalk compass markings are an excellent idea. No matter how much I think I know where I’m going when in New York, walking out of a subway station and back up to land level has always been very disorienting for me. Especially after the twin towers disappeared.

I don’t know how much time I’ve wasted by walking the wrong way trying to find a street sign in an unfamiliar Manhattan area. I’m definitely looking forward to this street feature for the next time I’m in NY.

]]> http://michaelherring.net/blog/2007/10/20/new-york-dot-unveils-sidewalk-compass-markings/feed/ 0 Stapler Usability Concerns http://michaelherring.net/blog/2006/07/26/stapler-usability-concerns/ http://michaelherring.net/blog/2006/07/26/stapler-usability-concerns/#comments Wed, 26 Jul 2006 22:33:39 +0000 Michael http://michaelherringdesign.com/blog/2006/07/26/stapler-usability-concerns/ An extreme case of mis- or non-applied usability practices:
A staple gun fired from the wrong end!

I don’t work in physical product manufacturing or packaging, but I’m thinking the manufacturer could have prevented this. The user didn’t read the instructions (seems quite common), but the design of the staple gun could have reinforced the correct usage through shape, colors, or warning labels.

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