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Where to wait for an elevator (2010)

johndcook.com

61–70 of 115 posts

Re: Where to wait for an elevator (2010)

#61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't an argument, as you can also select other people's non-choices.

Elevators sometimes have an anti-mischief feature where they will deselect every floor if all the floors are selected in a brief period of time. The cab will slow to a stop if no new buttons are pressed. It’s kind of eerie, actually.

Neat! How do you know this?

Re: Where to wait for an elevator (2010)

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't think elevators permitted scenario 1 to occur at all; I thought they refused to allow selecting floors not in the direction of travel. (I don't usually board elevators traveling in the wrong direction, ofc., so, I'm not that sure.)

I haven't done it in a while but my recollection is that if you press a "wrong-direction" floor it will just go there after having completed all the previously-selected stops.

not just previously selected but it will wait until there are no stops in the current direction, then switch directions and go in the reverse order

Re: Where to wait for an elevator (2010)

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Might also get confusing if the LED indicating the button's been pressed stops working

This comment right here is an example of thinking like a good designer. No amount of sleek surfaces and cool lighting can beat this.

Leave the button recessed after it's been selected, even if the LED fails (how often does this actually happen?) it's still a visual and tactile indicator.

To deselect the floor, simply press in again.

Re: Where to wait for an elevator (2010)

#64
post #8

Might be a bit off-topic… But: The one big question I have with elevator UX is this: why isn’t it possible to deselect a choice? So pressed 10th floor but wanted 11th. There is no way to press button 10 and then button 11 to correct that mistake. Will I ever solve this mystery?

In the Philippines (tested in Manila) high rises this seemed to be a common feature: Double clicking a selected floor would deselect.

Re: Where to wait for an elevator (2010)

#66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't done it in a while but my recollection is that if you press a "wrong-direction" floor it will just go there after having completed all the previously-selected stops.

not just previously selected but it will wait until there are no stops in the current direction, then switch directions and go in the reverse order

Yeah I wasn't sure what will happen if more people add in stops in the "right" direction afterwards, I don't think I've ever been in that situation, but that makes sense.

Re: Where to wait for an elevator (2010)

#67
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if there is any improving that system without replacing it.

There are some easy fixes to the things I described - like adding a list of offices and floor numbers above the touchpads, or adding a phone signal boosting indoors antenna. Apart from that, the first thing I wondered when I moved in was "oh, as a resident, does that mean I just get a keyfob I can wave at this screen that knows I live on the X-th floor?". That's also feasible, to the degree that the Wikipedia article…

> So why would [the landlord] care?

A complaint from one of many residents may be futile, but a complaint from the retail tenant with the largest space would carry more weight. Surely showing that this elevator decreases the value of their building would be something they'd care about, if delivered correctly.

Re: Where to wait for an elevator (2010)

#69
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Elevators sometimes have an anti-mischief feature where they will deselect every floor if all the floors are selected in a brief period of time. The cab will slow to a stop if no new buttons are pressed. It’s kind of eerie, actually.

Neat! How do you know this?

The elevators at my office were upgraded a few years ago and one of the elevator techs happened to mention it to me. I tried it out while alone, for obvious reasons.

Re: Where to wait for an elevator (2010)

#70
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Neat! How do you know this?

The elevators at my office were upgraded a few years ago and one of the elevator techs happened to mention it to me. I tried it out while alone, for obvious reasons.

Cool. I was hoping for something other than "I exhaustively test all new elevators".
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