Buffybee - central heating digital controls. Few years back I had a new replacement combi boiler installed. In the summer - so not thinking about CH. My older one had a clock on it that showed the whole 24 hours divided by 15 minutes and tiny buttons that pushed up or down on those to time it. Simle to use.
Day after boiler was installed I phoned the installers in a panic, as no timer was on the new one. I was told they were putting in a completely separate one and the installer would be with me in a couple of days. So, he came, put this little gadget in my front hallway, set the clock on it and then 'explained' to me how to work it. Also had a small instruction booklet. Now I am and always have been reasonably techi. Tried to read this, gave up but did manage to get an A4 sized one from the company.
All was well, until the Autumn. Switched boiler to have heating on as well and heard and felt it kick in. Half an hour later it had turned itself off!!! Phoned the company in a panic - and discovered that this was because that little gadget had been set to 18 degrees - and I was told how to set this higher.
Then, I wanted to work out how to carry out simple and quick alterations if I was going out somewhere and wished heating timings to be changed on a temporary basis. Read that book they sent me several times, made no sense, - then spent a month emailing the company and got replies which were just in the same gobbledegook as in the instruction booklet.
Did not know what to do - felt so stupid and helpless
Then, I put in a request on an internet social network site I used for older people. Gave the make of the timer and my problem - and within less than an hour received a reply (in English!) telling me exactly what to do, and it was so very simple.
If only manufacturers of all these gadgets would have some way of consulting with us - the normal folk - so that the instructions are not in computerwrite - but in language we can understand and use.