buttons suck! /uxcamp europe 2013

Buttons suck!...and the other UI elements are not much better

Petr KosnarIamPetr.com

@faxecz

Buttons are classics!- Part of the device that user can interact through

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...but what is their meaning on modern devices with large touchscreens?

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...where user can interact through the whole screen?

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UI elements typically imitate controllers known from the physical world: buttons, knobs, sliders...

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WHY?

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Why are UIs designed this way?

Known from the physical world

Clear mental model

That‘s how humans interact with technologies

Everybody does it

There are tools for that

Purpose of physical buttons:- To determine interactive part of the device- To move mechanics behind the scenes

...later to close particular circuit of electronic device

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Known from the physical world

Requirements of physical buttons:- Safety (not too sharp, ...)- Easy to operate them (big enough)- Providing feedback (movement, „click“, ...)

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Digital buttons:- Whole screen is (can be) interactive- Does not move anything- Does not need to be safe

(can have any shape, ...)- Does not provide feedback

(the system simulates feedback artificially)

Digital buttons do not reflect featuresof physical buttons, nor reasons why they weredesigned that way!

Why are UIs designed this way?

Known from the physical world

Clear mental model

That‘s how humans interact with technologies

Everybody does it

There are tools for that

Mental model:- A switch between states of the machine- Triggers predefined action- To be pressed

(or pulled)

That is very limiting for current devices!Image ref 5/

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NEW Mental model:- Manipulating the content directly- User‘s action reflects the desired response

(drag & drop, enlarge, rotate, throw away, ...)

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Users understand how to interact with new devices! (and if not, they learn it fast)

Why are UIs designed this way?

Known from the physical world

Clear Old mental model

That‘s how humans interact with technologies

Everybody does it

There are tools for that

Human-Machine Interaction

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Old, dumb machine:

- Waiting for commands- Responds in a standard, pre-defined way- User needs to know how to trigger certain action- Does only what user asks for

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New, intelligent machine:

- Interactions closer to Human-Human interactions- Recognizes and understands user

(mood, opinions, background, typical needs, ...)- Predicts, empathizes, personalizes, ...

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New, intelligent machinerequires a lot of AI!

...based on learning from big data, & patterns recognition

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The way how humans interact with technologies is changing!

Why are UIs designed this way?

Known from the physical world

Clear Old mental model

That‘s how humans used to interact with

technologies

Everybody does it

There are tools for that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVCGfGZbhGo

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Others still use buttons too?

Examples of „new“ interactions:- iPad app Paper, Android OS, ...many!(direct manipulation of content, intuitive gestures, user‘s actions linked to desired response, ...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVCGfGZbhGo

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...and these apps are popular and used by masses!(although the apps happily violate rigid usability guidelines)

Why are UIs designed this way?

Known from the physical world

Clear Old mental model

That‘s how humans used to interact with

technologies

Everybody does it

There are tools for that

Why are UIs designed this way?

Known from the physical world

Clear Old mental model

That‘s how humans used to interact with

technologies

Everybody does it

There are tools for that...so the evolution of UIs must stop?!

Why are UIs designed this way?

Known from the physical world

Clear Old mental model

That‘s how humans used to interact with

technologies

Everybody does it

There are tools for that So what?

Website of...

YesterdayIs old and dumb.- Consists of static pages that can be browsed

...like a big library in which you must search books- Is passive - waiting for user‘s action

(if user knows what to ask for, and how)

Website of...

Yesterday

Tomorrow

Website of...

Is new and intelligent!- Active dialogue with user – conversation!- Recognizes particular user

(returning? frequent visitor? what is he like?)- Reflects user‘s needs, character, mood, opinions, ...- Offers only content useful for him (her)...in a natural, human-like way.

Tomorrow

What shall we do then?

• Don‘t limit yourself for ancient UI elements

• Use the possibilities of new technologies• Search for meaningful interactions• Experiment• Forget about how you did it yesterday• Design for tomorrow• Begin with interactions, not UI elements• Customize your interfaces & interactions

What shall we do then?

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Tailor interactions and UI elements for your app!

...contribute to the evolution of UIs...

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And be brave and creative with your digital design!

Thanks!Petr KosnarIamPetr.com

@faxecz

Image credits:

1/ Flickr: flattop341 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/46861107@N00/253770935/)2/ Flickr: blakespot (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35448539@N00/4773693893/) 3/ Shegystudio (http://ui-cloud.com/white-blue-webui-elements-pac/) 4/ Flickr: włodi (http://www.flickr.com/photos/19716902@N00/3085157011/) 5/ Flickr: Humphrey King (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53646146@N02/8199045417/)6/ Luke Wroblewski (http://static.lukew.com/TouchGestureTemplate.pdf)7/ Flickr: alexkerhead (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26354629@N02/2749019656/)8/ Flickr: dierk schaefer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26480501@N06/2961565820/)9/ Flickr: Saad Faruque (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12278984@N02/7254347346/)10/ Youtube: Gizmo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw3zfAkp9SI)11/ Flickr: Hello Turkey Toe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7298413@N06/4932748746/)12/ Flickr: marksweb (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92166740@N00/3749673425/)