Covers for outdoor electrical outlets adapted to gently lock-out some light switches in a market research facility observation room. Behind a two-way mirror, the room must be kept darkened, and so the use-with-caution light switches are kept separated from the use-at-will light switches. The cover hardware, adapted from its intended use, doesn’t prevent operation of the light switches, but you have to think more deliberately before flicking them. This is a reasonable example of a forcing function.

Tags: access, behavior modification, electrical outlet, focus group facility, forcing function, interface, light switch, observation, one-way mirror, outlet cover, switch, two-way mirror, user interface

One Response to “Are you sure you want to do that?”

[...] Leaving aside that skeptical outlook, Steve Portigal made an interesting observation while visiting one focus group facility – they had outfitted the overhead light switches with outdoor outlet covers. [...]

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