5 Areas of Ergonomics

Last year my mom cut her finger on a can that she had opened with an old-school can opener. The edge was so sharp that the cut it was bad enough to send her to the hospital on a weekend to get stitches and get a tetanus shot.
She was determined not to let it happen to anyone else, and found this new can opener by OXO that prevented this sort of catastrophe from happening. Here are five reasons why I think this can-opener is good for any household.

Safety Reasons: The difference between this can opener and other can openers is where it cuts the can. OXO has designed it so that it is actually slicing the lid on the inside of the lip which leaves the top round and smooth and cut free, a great safety feature that does not fall into the over-designed category, but solves a basic common problem that people often face when opening cans.

Level of Comfort: The handles are big and have a gradual curvature, which allows the grip to remain firm without receiving few and painful pressure points. The knob to turn the gears that cut the can is also nice and big with gradual curves instead of some of our earlier ones which had a metal bar that was very uncomfortable if the can became even slightly hard to open. Also, the material on the handle and the knob are soft yet have a slight roughness to allow maximum comfortable grip. Sand paper might be more useful in obtaining a good grip, but the comfort level would certainly be lacking.

Ease of use: Perhaps it is easier to use because it is a new blade, and new blades tend to be sharper than old dull ones, but I find that I still expect the can opener to catch or go off course which means I have to readjust and start all over again. The OXO can opener always has an easy and consistent cut line which surprises me every time since I have become conditioned over the years to anticipate frustration with can openers. The fact that it cuts on the inside not only is a safety design, but functions as an "ease of use" design since you don't need to maintain the can opener at and awkward angle. You put it flat down on the can and start turning and once it fits in to place its not going anywhere.

Performance: My can opener, that my mom bought me specially so I could have one in my apartment, has done everything that I have expected it to do. Like they say, it appears to the consumer as an effortless design. I have less worries while using it, I can enjoy it more and the results are consistently exceptional. Every time I finish cutting open a can I run my finger along the edge, just to make sure, and without fail, it produces a smooth safe surface that I wont get cut on and also is safe to put in the recycling without future danger. It has not failed me yet because it remains a simple design; not batteries or electronics required, so it is sure to last for a long time.

Aesthetics: Last but not least, the look of the can opener is what you would look for in a kitchen utensil. It is all black, which goes with many pots and pans and other gadgets in the kitchen, and is a simple design look that will appeal to most customers. It does not appear to have any extra parts that would confuse a user, therefore its form is relatively explicit about its function, and while it is not exactly the same as the earliest can openers, which as I mentioned before have metal handles or bars in certain places, it is a recognizable tool that will go in anyones kitchen.

Overall, I am very satisfied with this product. It is a great example of how we can improve modern tools and designs to make them better and not just "fancier." I don't need internet on my can opener so don't try to make my phone come with one. Often, less is more, and this product is everything and nothing more than what I want in a can opener.