Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 12th June 2016

Dilbert//9920, first published ten years ago on Sunday 12th June 2016

Dilbert for Saturday 11th June 2016

Dilbert for Monday 13th June 2016

Tags

design, engineering, interface, ui, obstinacy

Official transcript

Dilbert: I simplified the user interface as you suggested. You wanted one button to do eleven different functions. It wasn't easy, but I think you'll be pleased. If you want me to turn up the volume... you hold the button down for exactly five seconds... then double-tap, and double-tap again. Then hold for exactly six seconds. Then press it all the way down, then halfway up, then 27 percent back down. And hold for nine seconds. Or you could admit that you don't know anything about interface design. Boss: Never!

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

I SIMPLIFIED THE USER INTERFACE AS YOU SUGGESTED.

YOU WANTED ONE BUTTON TO DO ELEVEN DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.

IT WASN'T EASY, BUT I THINK YOULL BE PLEASED.

IF YOU WANT TO TURN UP THE VOLUME...

YOU HOLD THE BUTTON FOR EXACTLY FIVE SECONDS...

THEN DOUBLE -TAP, AND DOUBLE-TAP AGAIN. THEN HOLD FOR EXACTLY SIX SECONDS.

THEN PRESS IT ALL THE WAY DOWN, THEN HALFWAY UP, THEN 27% BACK DOWN. AND HOLD FOR NINE SECONDS.

OR YOU COULD ADMIT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT INTERFACE DESIGN.

NEVER!

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

Comic Strip Title: "User Interface Frustration"

Summary:

The comic strip, originally published in the "Dilbert" series, revolves around a user's exasperation with a complex interface. The user, Dilbert, is shown to be struggling with a button that requires a specific sequence of actions to activate it.

Key Panels:

Panel 1: Dilbert is instructed to simplify the user interface as suggested.
Panel 2: Dilbert is told that he wanted one button to perform eleven different functions.
Panel 3: Dilbert is asked if he wants to turn up the volume.
Panel 4: Dilbert is instructed to hold the button for exactly five seconds.
Panel 5: Dilbert is told to double-tap and double-tap again, then hold for exactly six seconds.
Panel 6: Dilbert is instructed to press the button all the way down, then halfway up, then 27% back down, and hold for nine seconds.
Panel 7: Dilbert is shown to be frustrated with the interface design, stating that he could admit to not knowing anything about interface design if he didn't know anything about it.

Overall: The comic strip highlights the challenges of using complex interfaces and the frustration that can come with them. It pokes fun at the idea that some interfaces may be designed with the intention of being difficult to use, rather than user-friendly.

generated by llama-3.2-11b-vision-instruct

Accompanying textual content, such as title, tags and transcripts, is shown here if we have it. Not every comic has all of these, and they seem to be a bit hit and miss even on the official website.