About Usability

Errors messages are a tricky part of the HMI design. An error message means that the user cannot reach the goal of an interaction and it therewith carries a negative emotion (negative user experience). However, the adherence of simple principles can improve the design of an error message and consequently brighten the user’s mood (increase user experience). An error message should be simple, easy to understand, easy to locate, and, in the best case, instructive. Simplicity means that the message…

Read More Read More

The screenshot shows an error message from a computer in the library. The error message says: “Could not perform this operation because the default mail client is not properly installed.”. There appears to be a of technical error. Errors are a an unfortunate part of the human-machine interaction. As they interfere with the intended task by their nature, error messages can degrade user experience, particularly if the message does not follow basic principles. The message should communicate be clear and…

Read More Read More