Strange Copier Failure Graphic
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008
I took the picture above from the “Call for Service” Icon on my broken office copier.
I can’t figure out who that’s supposed to be. Is that the service guy who’s unhappy because he has to come fix the copier? Shouldn’t he be happy the copier is broken, maintaining his job security?
Or is the picture of the unhappy man a representation of the working soul of the copier that’s sad because it needs service?
The position of the icon, next to the phonenumber for service seems to suggest that this is the Service man - but then why is he unhappy? I mean, this is his job. I’m not sure I really want an unhappy serviceman coming to fix my copier. Maybe he’s got something’s going on at home? But then how would the copier know that? And if that’s true maybe he should go home and take care of whatever is upsetting him so much. If the service man is happy, would the icon have a happy face?
Perhaps it’s the machine’s attempt at commiseration and the unhappy man in the tie with the briefcase is meant to be the frustrated user who is now unable to copy.
I’d like to know the mind of the programmer who chose this icon. It’s strange, indeed.
