Assignment 2A - Bug List

1. The Bug: The charge port for the rechargeable computer mouse designed by Apple is located on the bottom of the mouse, where the device makes contact with a surface when in use, making the mouse unusable when charging.

WHY it exists: The port is needed for charging so the device can operate, because Apple chose to use rechargeable batteries instead of replaceable ones. The location of the port is possibly due to bad design.

2. The Bug: Ice produced by the automatic ice maker in the freezer melts together.

WHY it exists: The design anticipated ice consumption to occur more quickly. Perhaps the freezer defrost cycle inadvertently melts the ice cubes together.

3. The Bug: Travel size toiletry containers leak when taken on airplanes.

WHY it exists: The travel containers may be produced for ALL travel, not exclusively airline travel. Perhaps the container seals are not designed to withstand changes in air pressure.

4. The Bug: The grocery store has only high-priced organic produce in stock, no regular produce.

WHY it exists: Organics are more expensive, and likely are less appealing to price sensitive consumers. Consumers may still be in the adoption phase of organic produce.

5. The Bug: Fridge magnets that cannot hold any additional weight; you cannot use them to affix lists, pictures, etc. on your fridge because they fall off without full fridge contact.

WHY it exists: Perhaps the magnet was designed for multiple surfaces, including things like cars. The magnet may not have adequate “stick” based on the magnetic properties of the surface the magnet is stuck to, not the magnet itself.

6. The Bug: Gym members that do not rerack their weights.

WHY it exists: People are lazy. Gym management does not create or enforce policies with consequences for not doing so.

7. The Bug: Bagging area weight sensors at self-checkouts that are too sensitive, locking up the register and requiring an associate to assist.

WHY it exists: Shopper “operator error” from not using the equipment correctly; its not the equipment, it’s the user. The technology is too sensitive or not set up correctly.

8. The Bug: People who do not use a turn signal when you are yielding to oncoming traffic, and you wait unnecessarily.

WHY it exists: People are lazy, or are not considering other drivers. People unfamiliar with traffic laws despite the license they’ve obtained to drive.

9. The Bug: Traffic light signal cycles not timed to appropriate traffic flow and volume causing extreme delays.

WHY it exists: Traffic patterns have changed and the technology has not been updated to reflect peak times and traffic flow. Technology could also not be functioning properly.

10. The Bug: Pre-packed produce that prevents you from selecting individual fruit and vegetable items based on your own assessment of quality, as well as quantity.

WHY it exists: Grocery stores try and maximize sales by having you buy more than you need. Store may be attempting to sell through entire inventory by not having shoppers filter out and leave the least desirable items.

11. The Bug: Pump soap/body wash dispensers that do not fully dispense all product.

WHY it exists: This dispense option may be more preferable to other squeeze or pressurized options due to convenience of use and environmental impacts. The intent may be to have consumers purchase replacements sooner because not all product can always be dispensed and used and it will therefore not last as long.

12. The Bug: Items (mostly towels) get twisted and wrapped up in sheets while in the dryer, preventing them from fully drying during the cycle.

WHY it exists: The towels are heavier than sheets, and can act as a weight that twists the sheets as they tumble in the dryer. The “mattress hugger” sheet already has corner pockets that make this bug more likely to occur.

13. The Bug: Tijuana Flats makes you sign your credit card receipt for a meal that is only a few dollars.

WHY it exists: They are soliciting tips from credit purchases. They could be trying to limit as much liability for fraudulent charges.

14. The Bug: Public bathrooms that offer only electric hand dryers, no towel options for drying faces.

WHY it exists: Companies are trying to “go green” and eliminate paper waste. Electric dryer costs are likely lower than OE costs to maintain towels.

15. The Bug: Clorox style toilet tank tablets that are supposed to clean the toilet with every flush, but the bleach dissolves your rubber seals.

WHY it exists: The toilet may be flushed less frequently than the recommended “at least once per day”. Replacement toilet parts may not be manufactured to handle these bleach tabs.

16. The Bug: Lines painted on roadways/walkways that are supposed to increase pedestrian safety, but the painted surfaces become slip hazards when wet.

WHY it exists: Lines were painted with only one safety issue in mind to solve. Paint lacks anti-slip additive.

17. The Bug: Public restroom sinks with water pressure that is so high, splashes end up all over the front of your pants when the water hits your hands when you go to wash them.

WHY it exists: It could be that water pressure is too high, or the counter height is not ideal. The wrong aerator could also be attached to the end of the faucet.

18. The Bug: The cord I step on when running my vacuum back and forth over the carpet causing the vacuum to stop forward momentum unexpectedly due to loss of free movement, or causing me to almost trip.

WHY it exists: Perhaps this is due to poor vacuum design and where the cord is attached to the vacuum. It could be that I am not moving the cord out of the way, which seems odd because I feel like I am.

19. The Bug: The complete inability to trim my cat’s claws by myself. I need a second person; one to hold the cat, one to cut the claws.

WHY it exists: Perhaps my cats just hate getting their claws trimmed, and get squirmy. Existing trimming tools are not hands-free so you can use both hands to restrain the cat.

20. The Bug: People who drench themselves in perfume or cologne.

WHY it exists: People may do it intentionally because they want to have that strong of a smell. Maybe different people have different levels of sensitivity to smell.

Reflection:

In my professional life, it is very easy to find broken processes or opportunities within my organization that “bug me”, and I take action to implement operational improvements. I want to be more efficient and effective at work, and my bosses expect it of me. In my personal life, however, I am very easy going. I do not like to get worked up about things that I cannot change or influence, so I tend to let bothersome things roll off my back. Especially because we have enough headaches at work we have to solve! Therefore, I found this exercise to be extremely challenging, and it took over a week to complete a full list of twenty bugs. As expected, as I review the list, every item is something that is outside my control. Unless, of course, I took entrepreneurial action!