A placebo button is a push-button that appears to do something, but actually has no effect, like a placebo. In other cases a control like a thermostat may not be connected.
Although non functional they can give the user an illusion of control. In some cases the button may have been functional, but may have failed or been disabled during installation or maintenance. Only in relatively rare cases will the button have been deliberately designed to do nothing.[1]
In many cases, a button may not appear to do something, but in fact changes the timing in a non immediately apparent way; this can give the appearance of it being a placebo button.
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Walk buttons
Many walk buttons at pedestrian crossings were once functional in New York, but now serve as placebo buttons.[2]
Elevator close buttons
Some door-close buttons in elevators are placebo buttons, although some of them do in fact change the timing, and others are only functional when activated with a maintenance key.[1][3]
Office thermostats
Some office thermostats may also function similarly.[4]
References
- ^ a b Lockton, Dan (1 Oct 2008). "Placebo buttons, false affordances and habit-forming". Design with intent. http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/10/01/placebo-buttons-false-affordances-and-habit-forming/. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
- ^ Luo, Michael (27 Feb 2004). "For Exercise in New York Futility, Push Button". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/27/nyregion/27BUTT.html?ex=1393218000. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
- ^ Paumgarten, Nick (21 Apr 2008). "Up and Then Down - The lives of elevators". The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/04/21/080421fa_fact_paumgarten?currentPage=all. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
- ^ Sandberg, Jared (15 Jan 2003). "Employees Only Think They Control Thermostat". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1042577628591401304.html. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
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