unintentional fail-safe messages
23-Feb-05
The Bluetooth audio-receiver in audio-casette form-factor that’s been making the rounds on the gadget-porn sites today is kinda cool; My First RedBox was in a modified audio-casette case, so I understand the appeal … but, seriously, who has an audio-casette deck anywhere anymore? If you’ve got a $500 bluetooth-capable digital audio player, you’ve probably swapped out your car’s crusty tape deck for $50…
In any case, that’s not important right now. What is important is that you carefully read the small text at the bottom of the casette…
First, read the left-side text, and note that – while slightly strange – it’s basically coherent, and an important instruction! Now, read the right-side text and realize that it’s supposed to be read straight across. I can’t believe that it was intentional that the left-side text is a stronger assertion than the text as a whole … i.e., if you only read the left you wouldn’t even glance at the screw, but when you read the whole thing you understand that you’re allowed to. With different wording and line-breaking, it may have resulted in something entirely less safe.