Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Europe Chapter
Bad Ergonomics - Example 33

Vacuum

This is my part of my vacuum cleaner. There are two symbols next to a pedal that operates a brush; and I always have to think hard how to put it.

vacuum cleaner 2 symbols symbols

To be honest, I always thought that a brush was indicated as lower symbol, and I expected the brush to work like most knobs, pedals and switches do, switch on 'off' is off, on 'on' is on, like:

knob on off knob on on

However, when the control is on the 'brush'-symbol, the brush is in and the other way around;

control on brush control on brush brush in
control on brush control on rectangle brush out

Actually, now I think what is depicted is not the brush, but the floor, i.e. a carpet ('brush-symbol') or a level (e.g., wooden) floor (rectangle).

vacuum cleaner brush or carpet symbol vacuum cleaner rectangle
If the floor is depicted, I'd expect the carpet to be displayed the other way around, like and not . Confusing.

Submitted by Dick de Waard

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