• GARAGE DOOR HUMAN USE ANALYSIS
  • INTRODUCTION
  • |
  • USER EXPERIENCE
  • |
  • TEST RUN
  • |
  • REDESIGN

Intended Experience

The ideal experience is seamless. You keep the remote within easy reach on the car’s visor. When entering or leaving the building, simply press a single button to raise or lower the door. If the door is not closed by you, it may close automatically, especially in apartment buildings where the system is a component of access control.

Easy Access



Actual Experience

A brief survey of Amazon reviews on garage door opener systems would indicate users enjoy their experiences. Most systems have in the 4-5 star range for reviews. Aside from some mechanical failures, a closer look at the 3 star and below reviews reviles a prevalent pain point: It takes multiple button clicks, often at various orientations, to operate the door.

“My primary complaint is that the receiver is not reliable from short range…I need to be at just the right angle and distance, or the door will not close. Infuriating.” – Dr. Cap Smith, Amazon Review of Genie SilentMax 1200 Garage Door Opener.


Another satisfied customer


Root Cause

This frustration can be attributed two related factors.

Orientation of the remote matters when sending the signal to the receiver. Now the driver needs to take down the remote from its perch to achieve the optimal angle. This negates the convenience of storing the remote on the visor.

Furthermore, the receiver is on the inside of the building. When entering, the signal must be directed generally at the unobservable receiver and the user must be close enough to penetrate the garage door with the signal. This becomes especially cumbersome in apartment buildings where the doors are relatively thick.