Video recorders and child car seats top list of difficult-to-use everyday items

"In a research study carried out by leading user-experience consultancy User Vision, setting the video to record and installing a child car seat were cited as the most popular sources of consumer frustration, followed by digital TV systems, digital cameras, washing machines, dishwashers and tin-openers.

The research asked 500 consumers to name the items in everyday life which they found most difficult to use. Difficult-to-open packaging appeared regularly in the research – particularly for such items as batteries, orange juice/milk, tinned corned beef, CD and DVD players, razors, and Easter eggs. Adhesive tape was also a popular choice, with the inability to find the ‘end’ a major bug bear for several people.

In addition to car seats, several other children’s items fared badly on the usability stakes, including toy packaging, push chairs and non-disposable nappies. Domestic appliances such as central heating systems, digital alarm clocks and microwaves were also popular choices.

The research also revealed that the technology age is proving difficult for many to get to grips with. Handheld computers, PDA’s and all-in-one printing/copying machines came up regularly, as did several web sites – with online supermarkets and train company sites the most regularly criticised." Via PR Scotland