Who's in control? Designing the future with humans in mind

You get on the elevator, punch the close button a few times, and slowly the doors glide together as you catch your breath. But here's the truth: The door-close button doesn't do anything. What it does do is give you the sense that you have a direct impact on the rate they shut, that you're controlling the situation. The world is full of these so-called "placebo buttons." In the US, elevators have been required by law to stay open at least three full seconds ever since the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1990, and many other countries, including Britain, have adopted this regulation.