Exec couldn’t identify a photocopier, which made for a fax-inating tech support call
- ID
- 18937
- Status
- summarized
- Published
- 28 Aug 2026, 2:37 PM
- Fetched
- 28 Aug 2026, 3:23 PM
- Provider
- The Register
- Category
- technology
- Original URL
- https://www.theregister.com/personal-tech/2026/08/28/exec-couldnt-identify-a-photocopier-which-made-for-a-fax-inating-tech-support-call/5292838
- Source URL
- https://www.theregister.com/headlines.atom
Summary
- Score
- 1.0
- Created
- 28 Aug 2026, 3:24 PM
- Tags
- Audience
- developersvibe_coders
What happened
A Register 'On Call' column recounts a reader's story about a UK food company Company Secretary who tried to send an urgent fax by placing a document on a photocopier's in-tray, dialing a number on its keypad, and hitting Enter. The user was unaware she was using the wrong machine entirely.
Why it matters
No actionable takeaway for builders; this is a lighthearted anecdote about user error with legacy office equipment. Useful only as a brief icebreaker or comic relief segment, not as technical or strategic content.
Discussion angle
A quick 30-second laugh about UI discoverability and how similar-looking numeric keypads on different devices still cause confusion today — relevant to anyone designing multi-function hardware or software interfaces.