Unusable podcast (UX & usability): Recent Episodes
Andrew Waite & David Ball
Andy interviews prominent UXer and all-round nice-guy Doug Collins.
Other things we talk about:
- David's scare in the middle of the night
- Printing out a fake ID
Links mentioned:
- Doug Collins' Book - The UX Design Field Book
- The Oatmeal - Printers Were Sent from Hell
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/029-doug-collins-interview.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
Is gamification evil? Apple laptop gripes. What is bullshitification?
Other things we talk about:
- Facebook's endless newsfeed of infinite suprise
- Audi's virtual training programme game thing
- David spills beer
- Apple's natural scrolling
- Pressing delete on an iMac
Links mentioned:
- Gamification — exploring the Octalysis Framework
- Gamification is Manipulative. Is It Ethical?
- The Octalysis Framework for Gamification & Behavioral Design
- Smack Agency Gamification Examples
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/028-gamification.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
We talk about record players with modern(ish) controls, & confusing cloud storage
Other things we talk about:
- 1980s 'Stranger danger' adverts
- SanDisk's slotMusic & slotRadio
- Children listening to Hitler speeches backwards
- Facebook's confusing file browser
- Eating megabytes
Links mentioned:
- Forgotten memory? slotMusic & slotRadio|Techmoan
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/027-music.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
Andy angers IKEA, & we talk about wireframing & prototyping
Other things we talk about:
- Website with an embedded app creates a phone-in-a-phone
- Risky & annoying two-factor authentication
- A restaurant ordering app with inappropriate options
- Andy's headphones do something weird
Links mentioned:
- Wireframe vs Mockup vs Prototype: What is the Difference and Why Your App Needs it?
- How To Succeed In Wireframe Design
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/026-wireframing.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
Github Copilot is an exciting new tool to accellerate developer productivity. But has it been thought through? Could it be racist, and could it kill someone?
Other things we talk about:
- Ordering a mattress
- How long is 0.6 inches?
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/025-github-copilot.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
We talk about some common UX mistakes that people make on websites that we hope will go away.
Other things we talk about:
- Treadmill touchscreens confuse an old man
- Dentist form fiddling
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/024-common-ux-mistakes.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
We talk about the article 'Why I'm losing faith in UX' by Mark Hurst, tech ethics & horrible cancellation processes. And toilets.
Other things we talk about:
- Andy gets a humorously ironic app notification
- Logic puzzles at the gym
- Bad cancellation processes (including Amazon Prime's)
- Mark Hurst's Tech ethics
- Toilet flush buttons
- Smart motorway signage creating problems
Links mentioned:
- Why I'm losing faith in UX
- No, an exploitative product is not "great"
- A simple tech ethic
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/023-decline-of-ux.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
We talk about 'Product Led Growth' whilst getting drunk.
Other things we talk about:
- Skype answering video calls unexpectedly
- Andy's battery charger will definitely cause a housefire
- Google Wave
- We get more drunk than the Drunken UX podcast
- Andrew's new printer
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/022.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
David asks Andrew what changes we should keep after the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown, & how some websites can be really slow on mobile.
Other things we talk about:
- Giant inflatable penguin
- TV audiences at home
- One-way systems in shops
- Contactless payments
- Local shops pivoting to stay profitable during the pandemic lockdown
- Perspex screens in shops
- Theatre productions broadcasting online
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/021-lockdown-upsides.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
What is Occam's razor? In this episode we discuss simple solutions often being the best.
Other things we talk about:
- Dieter Rams
- KISS
- Programmers predicting & abstracting
- Andy is "thinly spread"
- Leaky toilets with a drop valve system
- Simplicity of the iPhone, compared to older phones
- Camera shutters on old phones
- Henry hoover
- "With greater functionality comes greater complexity", quote by Spiderman
Links mentioned:
- The water-saving device wasting billions of litres every week
- Laws of UX
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/020-occams-razor.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
What is Hick's Law? In this episode we discuss static website generators, & keeping things simple.
Other things we talk about:
- Wizards
- Martial arts
- A rigmarole logging into the student loans website
- Annoying Britbox app issues
Links mentioned:
- Pressing a button to expose yourself on the toilet
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/019-hicks-law.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
How does UX influence SEO? In this episode of The Unusable Podcast, we discuss how Google takes into account loading speed, mobile optimisation and other factors when deciding what to show first.
Other things we talk about:
- ASCII art porn
- David's new kettle isn't an improvement
- Apple disregards what we all know about AA batteries
- Andrew fails to use Duck Duck Go & Bing
Links mentioned:
- Google Lighthouse
- Google PageSpeed insights
- Google Core Web Vitals report
- Our shop
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/018-ux-affects-seo.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
David & Andrew discuss planned obsolescence, the practice of designing products to need replacing sooner to net the manufacturer more money. Is it a devious plot to get us all to spend more & pollute the environment, or just technology progressing? In our Bad Usability Nightmare, Andrew collects meat from a pub car park.
Other things we talk about:
- 100 year old lightbulb - the "Centennial Light"
- HP ink cartridges not working after time
- TV upgrades, & the pointlessness of 8K
Links mentioned:
- Sonos speaker update sparks anger
- Boring Wikipedia definition of Planned Obsolescence
- The Phoebus cartel
- Our shop
- Our Patreon
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/017-planned-obsolescence.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
Being forced to work from home due to coronavirus, Andrew & David discuss video chatting using Zoom & Skype, & then the rigmarole of getting things delivered. It gets a bit silly towards the end, because Andrew has been drinking whisky.
Other things we talk about:
- Asynchronous communication
- Journaling on Slack
- Privacy flaws with Zoom
- Google Nest's camera outage
- Unnatural delay on Hermes' chat-bot
- Comixology only has US vouchers
Links mentioned:
- Nest camera outage
- Resources for working from home
- Our shop
- Our Patreon
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/016-working-from-home.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
Security is a hugely important topic. David and Andrew share their look on what makes for good and bad security, talk about their own experiences in building web apps, and come to the realisation none of it matters anyway.
Other things we talk about:
- Bad actors - apparently it's a security term
- 2 factor authentication
- Kanye West's iPhone password
- Wifi-enabled locks & voice recognition
- Hacking smart speakers with a laser beam
- Biometrics
- Logging in on a TV
- David's security camera spotted Santa!
- Nicolas Cage could steal Andrew's daughter
- Andrew annoys a coffee company
- A bad shopping experience
Links mentioned:
- How good UX leads to great security
- Password guru regrets past advice
- Man hacks wireless baby monitor, makes vulgar threats to family
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/015-security-is-pointless.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
Andrew & David discuss what makes the internet terrible now, like slow websites, browser inconsistencies, monopolisation & people.
Other things we talk about:
- Are URLs are too confusing for some people?
- Average size of a webpage (compared to Sonic the hedgehog)s
- Andy's old crap Acorn computers are more efficient than todays
- Flash was fun but websites are more usable without it
- Parking machine app
- Crap digital school attendance register
- Hospital alarm fatigue & Andy's favourite song is ruined
- Constant flood updates
Links mentioned:
- The Spirit Of The Internet
- Browser engine diversity
- The Revenge of the IE Box Model?
- False Alarms & Alert Fatigue: The Tragic Design of Hospital Alerts
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/014-internet-is-terrible-now.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
David and Andrew talk about UX writing and try to answer why it's different to copywriting, and what microcopy is. They also discuss annoying browser notifications, a more sensible way for asking to set cookies, and why opening a japanese soda is difficult. Other things we talk about:
- Geocities
- What Is Copywriting?
- What Is Microcopy?
- Notification Permission Prompt Spam in web browsers
- User Inyerface - a painful game of bad UX design
- Translation on websites
Links mentioned:
- What Is Copywriting and What Is Its Purpose?
- What is UX Writing?
- What Is Microcopy? And How To Do It Like A Boss - By Maria De La Riva
- Reducing Notification Permission Prompt Spam in Firefox
- 16 Rules of Effective UX Writing - by Nick Babich
- Cut Homeless People In Half by 2025
- Don't kill your wife with work poster
- User Inyerface
- Our video playing User Inyerface
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/013-ux-writing-microcopy.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
David and Andrew look at the role of sound in usability. From deliberately loud vacuum cleaners to the crunch of a Pringle, sound is an important but often forgotten aspect of user experience. Also, David almost gets punched, and Andrew bum-shuffles on a water slide like a dog with worms.
Other things we talk about:
- Alarms in hospitals
- Sound branding of Japanese train stations
- Unique sounds in technology
- Faked sounds in cars
- Jingles that are ear-worms
- Auto-playing music on websites
- David comments on the usability of a self-checkout and almost gets punched
- Andy bum-shuffles on a water slide
Links mentioned:
- The Fake Sounds Companies Add To Products - Cheddar Explains
- 99 percent invisible episode - Sound in hospitals
- 99 percent invisible episode - Sound in cities
- The meat website that used to have an amazing auto-playing jingle
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/012-sound-design-ux.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
We discuss the Queen going shopping & being shown how self-checkouts work, & we discuss their advantages & annoyances. Also Andy has a story about a lame practical joke on a teacher using his Tesco club card.
Apologies for the terrible German at the beginning!
Other things we talk about:
- Online grocery shopping
- Amazon's AI-powered grocery store
- Andy's lame practical joke on a teacher using a Tesco club card
- Andy's "Freezer beige"
- Self-checkout celebrity voices
- Reasons why people don't like self-checkouts
- UX trends for shopping websites in 2019
- Andy meets a man named Martin in some old-fashioned bank
Links mentioned:
- 'You can't cheat?' asks Queen at check-out
- What is Amazon Go, where is it, and how does it work?
- Six ecommerce UX trends for 2019
- 2019 Trends in UX for Ecommerce Websites
- 2019 UX Trends for eCommerce
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/011-self-checkouts-online-shopping.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
We discuss using technology with different types of disabilities, what the term "accessibility" really means, and how designing for accessibility benefits everyone.
Other things we talk about:
- Accessibility as an afterthought vs Inclusive design
- Screenreaders & how blind people use the internet
- Funkify disability simulator
- Silktide's screen reader simulator
- Voice UI for to provide accessibility options, including for the elderly & in the shower
- Andrew's bank nightmare
Links mentioned:
- Funkify disability simulator
- Silktide's screen reader simulator
- Blind girl hacks - Alisha's Guide
- How many people in the UK have sight loss?
- Jane Hu's tweet
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/010-a11y-benefits-everyone.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
David & Andrew discuss the importance of designing for failure & making sure the problem is communicated to the user.
Other things we talk about:
- The chaos monkey
- Chrome's dinosaur game, service workers, BSOD & Twitter's "fail whale"
- Creating the best error message
- Facebook's annoying "chat heads"
- Andy's hotel TV "nightmare"
- Sky TV & YouView's interfaces
Links mentioned:
- https://twitter.com/DougCollinsUX/status/1083127107373449217
- https://netflix.github.io/chaosmonkey/
- https://uxplanet.org/how-to-write-a-perfect-error-message-da1ca65a8f36
- https://blog.usejournal.com/design-states-weve-been-totally-forgetting-79fcf22c88a3
- Understanding website performance
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/009-designing-for-failure.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
Bad design from 2018, plus other usability problems, dark patterns, how a computer forced David into an encounter with a naked man & the origins of the PlayStation buttons.
Other things we talk about:
- Dongles
- Bad usability prevents Americans from voting
- How the hamburger menu is horrible
- A urinal game
- A building that injures people
- A terrible robot shop assistant
- A computer forces David into an encounter with a naked man
- The origins of the PlayStation buttons
- Inclusive design
Links mentioned:
- The worst design crimes of 2018)
- T-Mobile Slapped With A $40 Million Fine For Its Deceptive Design)
- Banish the Hamburger Menu, Adopt Pizza Menus
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/008-design-crimes-from-2018.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
Cultures differ around the world - does that mean user interfaces should differ too? We talk about how companies have failed to reach international audiences & some funny cultural blunders!
Other things we talk about:
- Right-to-left language translation
- Ebay’s inconsistent user interface
- Bad product name translation fails
- Using chip & pin and contactless payments in America
- Andy reviews the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i, & the Sony WH-1000XM3
- Physical shops are failing at the single advantage they have over online shops
Articles we mentioned: International Usability Testing - https://www.nngroup.com/articles/international-usability-testing/
Products we talked about:
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i Noise cancelling headphones https://amzn.to/2QX6EJN
- Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones https://amzn.to/2Qx21H0
- Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones https://amzn.to/2PE1IVL
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/007-cultural-differences.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
In this episode of the Unusable Podcast, Andrew & David discuss "dark patterns" which are tricks that get customers to buy more in websites & apps. We talk about actual examples & get distracted on Wish.com by all the cheap tat from China.
Other things we discussed:
- Ryanair insurance deception
- GDPR banner buttons
- Advert banners that try to trick you
- The cheap tat on Wish.com
- Dodgy sales tactics
- Xbox One updates
- TV with progress bar
Links mentioned:
- Dark Patterns some examples to watch out for (YouTube video)
- 5 Naughty Conversion ‘Dark Patterns’ to Avoid in 2018 (+ What To Do Instead!)
- Wish.com
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/006-dark-patterns.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
In this episode of the Unusable Podcast, Andrew & David talk about the history of computer user interfaces and early computers, where UI is heading in the future with natural interfaces, and Andy has a frustrating experience with a parking machine.
Other things we discussed:
- The Bombe
- Why keyboards are QUERTY
- Amiga Workbench GUI
- The difficulty of having 2 Google Homes in the same room
- Not all voice interface is natural UI
- Mercedes' voice control joke
Links mentioned:
- The Bombe
- Natural User Interfaces – What are they and how do you design user interfaces that feel natural?
- Photos of the Xerox Alto computer with a portrait screen
- Photos of the Amiga workbench GUI
- A Short History of Computer User Interface Design
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/005-graphical-user-interface-history.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
In this episode of the Unusable Podcast, Andrew & David discuss road signs and instructions that are confusing, and cause more problems than they solve. They also discuss:
- Should roadsigns be replaced by emojis?
- Andy’s bad experience ordering at KFC using a touchscreen
- None pizza with left beef
- The complications of imperial vs metric (again)
- A terrible conversation with a Tomtom
Links mentioned:
- Young drivers understand emoji roadsigns better
- Andy can't get corn
- None pizza with left beef
- Photos of our own pizza on Twitter
- Photos of the "stay in lane now" sign on Twitter
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/004-road-signs-are-confusing.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
In this episode Andrew & David discuss units of measurements (including time & length) and how unnecessarily complicated they are. Also there's a brief discussion about how babies should be measured, David talks about how showers should work, and Andy talks about touchscreen drinks dispensers.
Links to things mentioned:
- A shower with only a "stop" button, but no "start"
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/003-unusable-measurements.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
In this episode Andrew & David discuss when bad usability or UX has had horrible consequences, like misdiagnosis, accidents & radiation leak. Also Andy's annoying coffee machine & David's useless microwave.
Here's the link to the episode: 002-unusable-podcast-killed-by-bad-usability.mp3
Links to things we talked about: https://medium.com/tragic-design/how-bad-ux-killed-jenny-ef915419879e https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-examples-of-bad-design-that-killed-someone
Music is by Gold5472
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/002-unusable-podcast-killed-by-bad-usability.mp3
Music is by Gold5472
Andrew & David discuss what we mean by usability, user experience (UX), & talk about norman doors & the importance of an easy website checkout.
The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in technology & the world around us, & talk about great design that just works - or moan about it when it doesn't.
Here's the link to the episode: https://podcast.theunusable.com/podcasts/001-unusable-podcast-usability.mp3
Music is by Gold5472