Book Reading #1: Good Design #2

Good Design #2: Electric Kettle

This is an electric kettle that boils water in seconds.  It is very simple with only a button in the handle to open the top and a switch to turn it on under the handle.  It has measurements on the side so that another container is not needed to measure before poring into the kettle.  The kettle can only sit on the stand one way and sets into a panel to provide power to the coils inside the kettle.  There are no exposed areas that could burn if touched.  The entire kettle is insulated very well including the bottom.  When it is full of water and rather heavy it is natural to grab it with two hands which is completely safe to do.  Once the water inside comes to a boil it automatically flips the switch off so it is not possible to over boil.  The same mechanism that can tell when it is boiling also can somehow tell if the kettle is empty.  It will not heat the coils and potentially melt the entire inside if there is no water to boil.  I have never had a problem with it.  Before I had the kettle, the only way I could heat water for tea was the microwave or stove which are much less convenient.