What not to do when designing

My microwave is a case study in awful user interfaces.

Here it is, in all its matching stainless-steel glory.

For starters, it isn’t always in “I’m-ready-to-cook” mode, which is clearly what one uses a microwave for most often. To set the time you need to push the ‘Time’ button, then put in the time. Awkward, but perhaps forgivable.

Setting the clock, however, is a different kettle of fish. This is the process:

1. press ‘Clock‘
2. press ‘Cancel‘ (this, inexplicably, clears the current time from the display)
3. key in the current time
4. press ‘Clock‘ again

That sucks.

Pressing ‘Cancel’ after starting an action should cancel that action, not be an integral part of it.

This is what happens when electrical engineers design user interfaces.

Yes, I am aware of the irony.