Flag

We stand with Ukraine and our team members from Ukraine. Here are ways you can help

Get exclusive access to thought-provoking articles, bonus podcast content, and cutting-edge whitepapers. Become a member of the UX Magazine community today!

Home ›› Apple ›› The Trouble with Caps Lock #wtfUX

The Trouble with Caps Lock #wtfUX

by Daniel Brown
2 min read
Share this post on
Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Save

Why does Windows reverse the cap settings when you press the shift button while caps lock is engaged? iT’S wEIRD.

Despite all the battles fought between Mac OS and Windows for operating system supremacy over the years, for users it’s now largely a matter of personal preference (not to mention budget). There are areas where each excels and where each lags.

However, if there is one fall-down, fatal, unbelievably horrible aspect of Windows that would be easy to fix and would leave no one wanting the old way of working, this is it.

iF i TURN ON CAPS LOCK, AND THEN i TRY TO USE THE SHIFT KEY, WINDOWS reverses THE CAPS SETTINGS. aT NO TIME IN ALL OF COMPUTER-USING HUMAN HISTORY HAS ANYONE ever FOUND THIS TO BE USEFUL.

But wait, there’s another surprise in store.

Obviously, Windows has inherited many bad habits from its past since people tend to get annoyed when features are changed or removed, no matter how outdated and useless that feature might be. (Think “paint bucket tool” in Photoshop.) “Modern” operating systems have the option (and even obligation) to do away with such nonsense.

Yet, the inverted-caps paragraph above wasn’t even typed on a Windows machine nor was it typed on a Mac. It was typed on a Chromebook.

That’s right, the newest member of the laptop world running the bleeding-edge of operating systems emulates the bad behavior of an old one.

There may be a reason they chose to emulate it, but I can’t think of one. Anyone?

P.S. I know someone is bound to mention that Ctrl-Alt-Del is THE worst usability choice in all of Windows and certainly the most famous, but it is highly unlikely you would discover it accidentally.

 

Keep these coming. Send them to us via Twitter or Facebook using the hastag #wtfUX or email them to: [email protected] with “#wtfUX” in the subject line. Include as much context as you can, so we get a full understanding of what the f%*k went wrong.

post authorDaniel Brown

Daniel Brown
Daniel has spent the past 20 years in software companies both large and small. From web design and development for a “boutique” web design firm to Evangelism for Adobe Systems, to helping budding startup companies get a foothold in the market, he’s worn a variety of “hats". Daniel has spoken at a variety of events worldwide including the Sundance Film Festival, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Santa Fe Digital Workshops, and the Pacific Imaging Center in Hawaii on the topics of web design, digital imaging, photography, and user experience. Daniel currently serves as the head of the interface and user experience department at a small medical software company in Providence, Rhode Island.

Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Related Articles

The “3-in-a-box” era is dead. In an AI-first world, hand-offs kill products — only Snowball teams that build, test, and code together will survive.

Article by Greg Nudelman
Snowball Killed the Dev-Star: Stop Handing Off, Start Succeeding in the AI-First World
  • The article calls for the “Snowball model”: cross-functional teams building, coding, and testing with real users together from day one.
  • It argues that in AI-first UX, “design is how it works” — requiring designers, PMs, and devs to collapse silos, share ownership, and even code collaboratively.
Share:Snowball Killed the Dev-Star: Stop Handing Off, Start Succeeding in the AI-First World
11 min read

AI isn’t replacing designers — it’s making them unstoppable. From personalization to prototyping, discover how AI is redefining the future of UX.

Article by Nayyer Abbas
AI in UX Design: How Artificial Intelligence is Shaping User Experiences
  • The article shows how AI enhances designers rather than replacing them.
  • It highlights AI’s role in personalization, research, prototyping, and accessibility.
  • The piece concludes that AI amplifies human creativity and drives better user experiences and business growth.
Share:AI in UX Design: How Artificial Intelligence is Shaping User Experiences
3 min read

Designing for AI goes beyond buttons and screens; it’s about building invisible connections of trust, understanding, and psychology between humans and technology.

Article by Anina Botha
Designing the Invisible between humans and technology: My Journey Blending Design and Behavioral Psychology
  • The article explores the shift from designing visible interfaces to shaping invisible psychological connections between humans and AI.
  • It emphasizes that trust, reliability, and understanding are more critical design challenges than traditional UI or UX elements.
  • The piece argues that AI design is less about predefined flows and more about building relationships grounded in psychology and human behavior.
Share:Designing the Invisible between humans and technology: My Journey Blending Design and Behavioral Psychology
4 min read

Join the UX Magazine community!

Stay informed with exclusive content on the intersection of UX, AI agents, and agentic automation—essential reading for future-focused professionals.

Hello!

You're officially a member of the UX Magazine Community.
We're excited to have you with us!

Thank you!

To begin viewing member content, please verify your email.

Tell us about you. Enroll in the course.

    This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Check our privacy policy and