Comments on: Bad usability is like a leaky pipe.

By: David Hamill

David Hamill — Mon, 27 May 2013 09:49:46 +0000

Hi Harry, I just stumbled across this in a image search for a leaky pipe. I was going to use it to create a similar diagram. Thanks for saving me the bother, I’ll just link to this.

By: niti bhan

niti bhan — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 14:30:04 +0000

Harry, give me a clue because that’s what happened to my apartment.

By: Yatin Sethi

Yatin Sethi — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 14:37:03 +0000

Very well illustrated.

I think there would be many more significant “leaks” in the pipe. As Jared quoted, many even go undetected, so how to account for them ??

Any takes on that ..

Yatin.

By: Harry Brignull

Harry Brignull — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:29:00 +0000

Hi Jared,

Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

A few months ago my next door neighbour (from the flat above me) went on holiday, and left her bath tap dripping. It was a barely noticeable leak, and it somehow missed her bath and went through the floorboards. As a result the ceiling of one room basically fell down.

…Small drips may seem minor – and at first undetectable – but over time they can become a significant force.

By: Jared Spool

Jared Spool — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 13:35:21 +0000

It’s a good metaphor.

The only issue is the “leaks” usually go undetected by the “pipe owner”, so they often can’t tell something is wrong.

Jared