28 June 2010

The 'safe' adventure - or - User Interfaces DO matter

Safe with bad user interface
I was in a hurry.
I typed in the standard four digit code I always use and shut the door of the safe.
I pressed "Lock" and heard the hum of the motor drive the steel bolt of the door across and seal the door.
Inside was my "contains everything" laptop and a small Eee PC.
I raced out of the door and down to the lobby and met my fellow traveller, colleague and friend MM.
We had just checked in, done the Shave S*** and Shower routine and had just one thought on our minds: FOOD!.

We found a nice restaurant, good food. We were famished.
After the first main course I ordered another one and french fries. Then a third main course.  They were  looking at me. MM had two main courses.

Back in the hotel room I was ready to do some more work on my laptop.
I entered my usual code and got "ERR"
I tried again. - ERR
Hmmmm .....
This safe didn't ask you to type the number twice, just enter any four digit number and slam  the door shut and it was locked.
The only problem was: if you mistyped the number and then could not remember what you typed.
Hmmm..... 
I must have mistyped the number when I shut the safe.

This is the reason most safes and passwords on websites ask you to type it twice. In case you made a mistake the first time.

I tried all combinations I could think of.
Nothing.
Araggghhhh!!!!!!
It's a VERY frustrating feeling when your stuff is locked in a steel box and you can't get it.
You want to tear the safe out of the wall and smash it.
Of course the contents would die as well... arrghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

I tried and tried.
Then the safe spat the dummy. It refused to let me try anymore.
The number 28 appeared.
I kept trying, the number 28  was still there.
Bugger, now I 've done it.

After a while I tried again.
The number was now 26.

After a while I tried again.
The number was now 23
"Duhhhhh !  I got it !
I was locked out and the safe was counting down...

Just that day I had wondered what the hotels would do if anyone ever did lock a safe and could not remember the code. Would they have some simple key that every room service girl knew or would they call some specialist ?
They called a specialist.

A Vietnamese technician came round to unlock the safe.
He tried for a while, but no success.
The countdown clock started again.
We were locked out for another 28 minutes.

After 28 minutes he tried again. He has special device the plugs into the OS2 port at the front.
Eventually the door opens
Hallelujah.... !!!!!!!
From now on I will test every safe - lock it and unlock it when it's empty, before putting anything into it.
Of course: with better user interface software all this would not have happened. 
Of course with more thought and care and less hurry and silliness on my part this would not have happened.

It could still happen of course, but not as likely.
My online bank account required me to type my  name and password twice. That's standard practice.
For some strange reason when I set up my account I mistyped my name twice. Both times in exactly the same way.
Now every time  I use that account I have mistype my own name to get in.
So nothing is proof against fools. 
'errhuuummm!'

---(o)---

I always wonder: we humans try to make things safer, and it makes life more complicated.
Is that really worth it ?
We set up people to protect us from other people.
But WHO WATCHES THE WATCHERS ?
Who watches those who are supposed to protect us ?
What if they turn bad, who  protects us from them ?

I like things simple (but I'm complicated).
Maybe that's why I like developing countries, they have not reached the ridiculous complexity of developed countries, life is still clear and manageable and living there I don't feel like a part of a huge machine.
The people seem more real, more empowered, strange to say. 
It is chaotic and seems more dangerous and all that.
Sure.
It's just personal preference I guess.
 
Cafe 8, Hanoi, near St Joesph's Cathedral

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