Simplest GUI widgets are the building blocks for most functionality on the web, but it’s rare to find sites that use all the dialog controls correctly. Even something as simple as radio buttons and checkboxes are incorrectly used half the time. And let’s not even get started on drop-down menus, which are horribly abused. This article talks about another design element that gets frequently misused: tabs.
(Here, I’m talking about in-page tabs , as shown in the several example screenshots below. These are the tabs you might design yourself, as part of your website or web-based application. A different kind of tabs is used as browser chrome to allow users...
For mission-critical applications, you can often assume that most users have tried the app many times before. You can also often assume that new users will get some training before seeing the UI on their own. At the minimum, they'll usually have nearby colleagues who can give them a few pointers on
Another application-design heuristic violated by the Hawaiian warning system is the ability to undo an erroneous command. The sending of messages cannot literally be undone, which is why a confirmation step is appropriate before the system starts sending. But one can at least send out a second
GoodHousekeeping.com goes the extra mile with the modal mailing-list dialog — not only is the background deactivated, but it’s replaced altogether with a full-screen photo, removing all context of where the user is on the website. It also appears within the first 3 seconds after the user first
How Blockchain Can Put an End to Conflict Minerals
So although the Dodd-Frank Act went into law in 2010, the issues remain and are spreading on a massive scale. The advent of millennials becoming a more substantial purchasing power will help all of us. The millennial has their eyes cast upon saving the planet — and gaining civil rights for
How Can Blockchain Help Secure IoT Data?
They will know exactly where everything is. The reasons are not always as simple as the thought that a hacker is trying to gain something. There are criminal-minded people whose only aim is to disrupt someone’s life — and even more — some just want to — watch. Such people
Evolving from Decentralization to Centralization – Back to a Decentralized Future
The first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, managed to control his territories by setting up new laws and regulations. However, even though the military and government of ancient China thrived, the situation escalated into a high level of censorship. Currently, as a result of a long history of extremely
The Impact of Tone of Voice on Users' Brand Perception (Nielsen Norman Group UX research)
Quantitative data is useful for measuring whether users can perceive your intended tone, and comparing such numbers between alternate proposed pieces of writing. Qualitative research is much better for understanding why users like certain forms of communication, as well as getting deeper insights
tabs, used right
4 Noteworthy Intranet Design Trends in 2019
Ignoring or rebelling against using the intranet are learned behaviors that were reinforced by repeated poor experiences and infectious word of mouth between colleagues. (Learned helplessness is a well-documented phenomenon: once somebody has been beaten down enough times, she gives up trying
Creepiness–Convenience Tradeoff
As with anything we design for, there will be differences in individual users. People will have differing levels of awareness of a product and its capabilities, meaning that some may be further along in their path toward acceptance than others. There may also be individual differences in creepiness
Accot-Zhai Steering Law: Implications for UI Design
When designing other UI elements that involve path-steering tasks, such as sliders, scrollbars, and video playback heads, remember that users will have a hard time achieving precision with such controls. Therefore, for precise tasks, supplement these UI elements with other secondary controls that
Profit Maximization vs. User Loyalty
Even though standard economic theory says that you should employ both of these strategies, I warn against them due to their impact on user loyalty. It will quickly become known that different people are charged different rates and those customers who have been charged the higher price will rebel
Let Loyal Shoppers Edit Saved Credit Cards
ParkWhiz.com did not let users edit existing cards. This resulted in two identical payment options “Pay with my saved Visa ending in 6159.” There was no option to delete old payment methods. (Also note that the use of light blue text on a white background makes the selected payment type
WordPress for Good: Relieving Fatigue .
In this segment, we highlight Untire, an application that helps cancer patients and survivors reduce cancer-related fatigue (CRF) symptoms and regain life. CRF is a common side-effect of cancer and related treatments; patients describe it as a paralyzing level of fatigue that leaves patients
tabs, used right
How to Recover Abandoned Shopping Carts for WooCommerce Stores
Imagine this: You’ve spent months getting your new eCommerce shop up and running. You set up WooCommerce, installed a bunch of plugins, found a perfect theme, dotted all your i’s and crossed all your t’s on tax compliance, logistics, and customer service. You roll out your beautiful new shop
WP Engine CEO Heather Brunner Named DivInc Executive of the Year
Heather’s leadership at WP Engine has been instrumental in helping the company build an enduring, predictable business, particularly after a key investment from Silver Lake last January, as well as the recent acquisition of StudioPress. Heather also heads a diverse leadership team and has
Personas vs. Jobs-to-Be-Done
Well-executed personas are based largely on rich behavioral characteristics, attitudinal data, and insights about mental models, and they require qualitative research with real users to uncover the why behind users’ behaviors. These rich personas typically will include information related to
Good UX: What I Learned While Working in Restaurants
The familiar comforts people, and they become proud of their expertise and inside knowledge over time. Change can be disruptive on a personal level if it's abrupt, heavy handed, or if it removes a favorite item irrevocably. A completely new menu might as well be from a new business, because
UX Research Cheat Sheet
When deciding where to start or what to focus on first, use some of these top UX methods. Some methods may be more appropriate than others, depending on time constraints, system maturity, type of product or service, and the current top concerns. It’s a good idea to use different or alternating
A 60-Second Trailer of the 60-Day Report on Cybersecurity
She explained that the original design of the Internet was driven more by considerations of interoperability rather than security, and as a result we are now faced with almost insurmountable issues. Some examples include online criminals who steal our information, mass bandits who have the ability
In an Experiential-Obsessed Marketplace, Surkus Uses Tech to Stand Out
Surkus’ knowledge of where members are at every touchpoint is valuable: By tracking members’ locations and activity, the platform can nudge them and offer reminders. The platform, designed for Instagram posts, can point out that a member, still at an event, just took 50 photos and should post
To Prevent Fraud, Healthcare Organizations Must Streamline Their Data Processes
In this case, the insurance company will hold the bill for around 15 days while it tries to unsuccessfully process it, at which point it goes back to the hospital with a request for more information. When the back-and-forth process drags out for 60-plus days, thousands of dollars are wasted on
A 60-Second Trailer of the 60-Day Report on Cybersecurity
Melissa Hathaway came across our radar recently when President Obama tasked the former Bush administration aide with leading a 60-day review of Bush’s Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative; a largely classified, purported $30 billion, multi phase plan to address cybersecurity issues
tabs, used right
A 60-Second Trailer of the 60-Day Report on Cybersecurity
She explained that the original design of the Internet was driven more by considerations of interoperability rather than security, and as a result we are now faced with almost insurmountable issues. Some examples include online criminals who steal our information, mass bandits who have the ability
Killer Marketing Plan For Startup Entrepreneurs
Why break the bank for your marketing needs when you can brainstorm your way to a killer marketing plan? The best marketing ideas come simple and cheap but these ideas do not come out of the blue. Your actual business plan will require an out-of-the-box, innovative thought process. You’ll
Tabs, Used Right | Why Country Sites Are So Bad
Why Country Sites Are So Bad
This third problem isn't found only with lumbering multinationals. NIH (not invented here) is a universal human feeling, even though it often degrades usability and causes inconsistent design. In our work on non-profit organizations' websites, we often see that local (city or state) groups have
Iterative Design and Testing of Icon Usability
As you can see, all the versions of the color icon were essentially the same since the computer with a light bulb going on was easily recognized by all users as representing some combination of computers and bright ideas (the Sun solutions!). The light bulb did double duty as representing software
Top 10 Web Design Mistakes of 2002
Don't assume that people will sign up for a newsletter just because it's free. You have to tell them, right there , what they will get and how frequently it will hit their mailboxes. Also, you must provide an explicit privacy statement or an opt-in checkbox right next to the entry field. Otherwise
