A clock designed to be a specifically bedside clock needs to do one extra thing that a regular clock need not do, or it is not usable. As well as the clear imperative to Tell the Time. There is a key secondary imperative Be Visible In The Dark.
So when a clock doesn’t do this, you have to marvel at the absolute and unutterable stupidity of the design. Poor usability in spades! What happen with my clock, believe it or not, is when you operate the light, so that you can see the time in the dark, the light drains the battery so much that it no longer displays the time!
Truly dumb design. Staggering.
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I have a very smart but very dumb alarm clock. It is radio-controlled, tells the exact time anywhere in the world.
but
You can’t see it in the dark, and it has a light you can turn on that doesn’t stay on long enough. The process of setting the alarm is so tortuous that the light times out midway through.
So I have to remember before I turn out the light to check I’ve set the alarm at the time I want to get up the next day. If I don’t, and remember later, I have to get up, turn the light on and then change the alarm.
It also has a slim and elegant design which means that when the alarm goes off and I sleepily paw at the snooze button, the whole thing falls over and the batteries fall out and roll under the bed.
Comment by Rachel — March 8, 2007 @ 7:25 pm