Two hot concepts: iPhone and periodic table. What could possibly go wrong?

By Mac McBurney

Two dazzling and totally irrelevant visual metaphors in one thoroughly annoying interface.

I loved the novelty of being a kiosk/iPhone and the creative, behind-the-glass point of view. Then I tried to get something done. 3M is a kind of hometown hero for me. I know some good people there and I want to like the company, so part of me wants this crime against usability to be intentional, logical somehow. QWERTY keyboards were designed to discourage excessive speed. Could 3M have any conceivable reason to discourage excessive understanding? Anyone… Hello? Say it ain’t so, Joe!