Joel Spolsky has a couple of very interesting posts about elevator usbiilty: [linky 1], [linky 2].

The second link brings up an interesting usability bug around users being forced to use two different elevator interfaces, one for work and one for home.

I couldn't resist telling you the second usability bug with those elevators where you select a floor before getting on. People who work in buildings with the new elevators but live in buildings with traditional elevators report that when they get home at night, they sometimes get into the elevator and then just stand there, expecting the elevator to know their floor already.

Now I think something that's much more relevant to everyone reading this is the difference between the automated faucets in public bathrooms and old school ones with handles.

Do you ever find yourself sliding your hands under a faucet and waiting...waiting...eh, oh it's got a handle.  Cause I do.

Very interesting how quickly automated faucets integrated themselves into our environment and expectations.