Sometimes you have to do things manually if automation fails Other things we talk about: Martin Lewis sues Facebook over scam ads Posh pasta instructions Android's useless button Links mentioned: Facebook still claims it's not a publisher – but Martin Lewis's court action could be set to change that UK journalist is suing Facebook for defamation over fake ads Martin Lewis Is Fired Up About Suing Facebook for Fake Ads Using His Image The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David B...
Feb 13, 2023•54 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast Cars are transitioning rapidly from fossil fuels to being battery powered. In this rapidly growing market, UX has the power to differentiate products and accelerate adoption. Equally, bad design has the power to put people off switching to a greener alternative. In this episode Andrew interviews Wolfgang Bremer, Head of Design at Elli - an EV charging brand that's part of the Volkswagen Group. Other things we talk about: David picking a new toilet A doctor's surgery sending an unfortunate "...
Jan 10, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast We discuss the consequences of companies that stop supporting their products, Andrew has a fridge delivered and David introduces his "most infuriating website of the podcast". Other things we talk about: David takes signs way too literally Things Killed By Google Ads on file download sites Links mentioned: Their Bionic Eyes Are Now Obsolete and Unsupported Killed by Google The Unusable podcast is presented by Andrew Waite & David Ball, who discuss the importance of user experience ...
Nov 02, 2022•32 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast We talk about Jakob's Law, by usability advocate Jakob Neilson. Andrew tells a story about how he scammed an expensive car park. Other things we talk about: Separate audio channels on Android Weird headphone problems with Microsoft Teams Learned expectations & progressive enhancement The selectmenu HTML tag Links mentioned: Jakob’s Law of user experience: Don’t make users think Get running with Couch to 5K Say Hello to selectmenu, a Fully Style-able select Element The Unusable podcast is pre...
Jul 12, 2022•33 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast 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 d...
Mar 13, 2022•54 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast 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 pre...
Feb 07, 2022•58 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Dec 31, 2021•40 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast 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 dis...
Dec 10, 2021•46 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast 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 episo...
Aug 31, 2021•29 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jul 16, 2021•38 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Unus...
Jun 15, 2021•34 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Mar 26, 2021•38 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ex...
Jan 18, 2021•39 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Nov 28, 2020•47 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast 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 w...
Oct 10, 2020•43 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Jun 21, 2020•32 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
May 17, 2020•41 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast 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 workin...
Apr 11, 2020•50 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jan 19, 2020•59 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast 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 i...
Nov 19, 2019•50 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast 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 an...
Sep 09, 2019•53 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast 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 comment...
Jul 14, 2019•52 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast 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 p...
Jun 08, 2019•44 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast 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 men...
Apr 09, 2019•57 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast 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.git...
Mar 08, 2019•45 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jan 11, 2019•49 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Dec 16, 2018•38 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast 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 exampl...
Nov 22, 2018•42 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast 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 I...
Nov 01, 2018•57 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Pho...
Sep 23, 2018•52 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast 
