usability (1)

There's a lightswitch in my new office and I couldn't use it. We worked it out but this annoys me - I'm not too stupid to use a lightswitch.

I got in one morning and I wanted to turn the lights down. First I couldn't find any switches. I asked. The switches were inside columns down the centre of the open-plan office, but hidden behind opening panels. So now I've found the switches. They look like rocker switches in the neutral, middle position. Not knowing which way to press (up or down) I press it. Nothing happens. I try the other way. Nothing. Each time it returns to the middle. Is it the wrong switch? There are many switches, many pillars and many lights. Or is it broken? Someone comes over and says "You've got to hold it down" - so I do. Try it for 5 seconds one way - nope - then the other - nope. I try it for longer. I notice the light has changed a bit. I realise it's a DIMMER SWITCH. Hold it down long enough and it turns off.

Jeez - what's wrong with an on/off switch, or, if you must dim, then a rotating one. The whole point of a rocking switch is that it toggles something.

So it's a crap user interface because...

1. The control (the light switch) is hidden
2. The control is not associated with what it is controlling (the lights)
3. The control doesn't behave as you expect (holding down to adjust rather than toggle)

One of mankind's simplest interfaces and someone's screwed it up.

Since then I've discovered that if you open the panels enough there's a map and instructions (!) inside. And you have to press the top of the switch to dim the light. Honestly.