Random petty annoyances in the usability world:
- When a web site makes me log in, but has nowhere for me to log out.
- When a site makes me log in more than once (for instance, once to enter a members-only section, and again to comment on a discussion forum).
- When my e-mail program randomly logs me out. Hello, I can see a security reason if I haven’t touched it for hours, but don’t do it when I’ve just used it minutes ago!
- When my client’s Outlook logs me out when I’m in the middle of writing an e-mail. Same thing; I get the security aspect of not being touched for hours, but I’m using it!
- When I send something to print and specify black only, but just because one of the coloured inks is low, I have to push a button on the printer itself that says “print in black only.”
- When the printer manufacturer bugs me to fill out a survey about my printer use, saying how valuable my feedback is. Then the survey only asks things like how many printers are in the house and if I use them for personal or business use, and doesn’t offer an open-ended question where I can actually give some feedback.
But, hey, it’s Friday afternoon and the sun is shining. So I’m getting off the computer now. If you’re still on, what bugs you?
3 Comments
How about a secure client site that requires me to change my password frequently, when my online banking service doesn’t?
How about the sites that assign you a long, confusing password that you’ll never remember
I could go on… and probably will
…or the sites that make you sign in with an e-mail address AND a password AND a userID, but when you try to choose one, keep telling you that userID is taken. I have read about IDs that incorporate bad language after a few rounds of “sorry, that userID is taken.”
Sites that don’t give clear direction upfront as to what is required in a password, and you have to try to come up with a password three times before you meet all their requirements.
Password must be more than 6 characters
Password must not have spaces
Arghhh!