Daniel Bergey

The Nielsen Norman Group is noted for promoting and studying usability, in both computer interfaces and everyday objects. Don Norman’s essay on Toilet Paper algorithms shows that he has thought more than most readers would care to about such a mundane, everyday item, but I love this stuff.

When we remodeled our home, we decided to install a dual toilet-tissue holder. Most home toilets have a single holder for a single roll. A single roll, however commonplace, is, well, shall I say, awkward. When the roll empties, then what? As a result, whenever we saw the roll approaching exhaustion, we would place a new roll either on the floor beside the toilet or on top of the toilet tank. In either case, we were defeating the nice orderly arrangement of the facility. Wouldn’t it be far better to have a place to put the roll? Full article

Thankfully, Jennifer and I share the same toilet paper roll orientation preference (FORWARD!). I have heard that this is a cause of tensions in many marriages, so I shall consider myself fortunate. But even when two people do agree that the paper should come off the front of the roll, there is apparently still a lot of thought that can go into how they install and use their roll(s) of toilet paper.

I heartily agree with Don Norman’s findings.

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