User Centered

As I've mentioned before, I'm not very good at wrapping presents, so I'm happy whenever I can get some help. Unfortunately, I still end up with wrapping that looks like this first picture. If you can't tell what's wrong with it.. well in that case there isn't! It's fine!

Right....so anytime I run across an item that is supposed to make it easier for me to wrap, I scoop it up in hopes that I can cancel out my poor spatial reasoning and other gift-wrapped-shortcomings. This year, it's the Paper Cutter and Tape Dispenser, both from Scotch:

The paper cutter is pretty much all you need for cutting. when I use scissors, I usually just slide the blade down the paper anyway, that's all this thing does, but it's a little easier to use. Of course, you'll still need your scissors for managing ribbon and bows and what not, but this is nice for paper.


The tape dispenser is a little rough around the edges. You can pull the trigger to advance the tape and then pull back on the blue tab on top to cut. It just seems like a old scotch dispenser that you pull little strips out (that was all the rage in the preceding years) was a little easier to use. This would be a little better if the tape roll moved a little more freely. Clicking the trigger to advance was way too slow, so I opted to just pull the tape out. It pulls out quite easily if you use your fingers, but will likely tear the paper if you just put the tape down on the wrapping paper and pull it.


In any event, both are fine products that will likely help you with wrapping... but as evident by the first picture here, they still won't help you choose the right amount of paper to cut.