Print Story Fads in Interface design
Diary
By cam (Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 11:03:31 AM EST) (all tags)
Seems it has become a fad to op stuff everywhere as a reminder to the user. For instance I cannot shut Firefox without it warning me I have tabs open or querying me if "I really want to close it?". Eclipse does the same, though I know I can turn it off but am too lazy. Outlook in windows has tooltips that obscure the actual email header that I want to read.

Too much. Time to stop that fad IMO.



It is quote annoying. I think it is akin to all the warnings cars have these days. As an example my (a 2 seater) has a warning that airbags can kill little kids and babies so if you want to transport a kid in the car put them in the backseat. It is meaningless. The car has no backseat, doesnt even have trunk space, but they still get put on each and every car.

There is the assumption that you must be an idiot. Worse you cannot remove the signs on the visors, they are moulded into the sun visors themselves. M told me that there was some doctrine too, where if I sell the car and remove those visors I can assume liability for a person not being warned of the issue.

Same with interface design on web pages and applications. They are constantly querying me, asking me if I really want to do that? I am pretty sure I clicked the button. I am also pretty sure it was a conscious decision to click the button. So do it.

Full discussion: http://www.hulver.com/scoop/story/2008/4/30/11331/4421