Why buttons suck, and other truths about ancient UIs & interactions that do not utilize possibilities of current techologies. (UXcamp Europe 2013, Berlin)

1. Buttons suck!
...and the other UI elements are not much better
Petr Kosnar
IamPetr.com
@faxecz

2. Buttons are classics!
- Part of the device that user can interact through
Image ref 1/

3. ...but what is their meaning on
modern devices with large touchscreens?
Image ref 2/

4. ...where user can interact through the whole screen?
Image ref 2/

5. UI elements typically imitate controllers known
from the physical world: buttons, knobs, sliders...
Image ref 3/

6. WHY?
Image ref 3/

7. 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

8. 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
Image ref 4/
Known from the physical world

9. Requirements of physical buttons:
- Safety (not too sharp, ...)
- Easy to operate them (big enough)
- Providing feedback (movement, „click“, ...)
Image ref 4/

10. 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)

11. Digital buttons do not reflect features
of physical buttons, nor reasons why they were
designed that way!

12. 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

13. 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/

14. Image ref 6/
NEW Mental model:
- Manipulating the content directly
- User‘s action reflects the desired response
(drag & drop, enlarge, rotate, throw away, ...)

15. Image ref 6/
Users understand how to interact with new devices!
(and if not, they learn it fast)

16. 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

17. Human-Machine
Interaction

18. Image ref 7/
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

19. Image ref 8/
New, intelligent machine:
- Interactions closer to Human-Human interactions
- Recognizes and understands user
(mood, opinions, background, typical needs, ...)
- Predicts, empathizes, personalizes, ...

20. Image ref 9/
New, intelligent machine
requires a lot of AI!
...based on learning from big data,
& patterns recognition

21. Image ref 9/
The way how humans interact
with technologies is changing!

22. 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

23. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVCGfGZbhGo
Image ref 10/
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, ...)

24. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVCGfGZbhGo
Image ref 10/
...and these apps are popular and used by masses!
(although the apps happily violate rigid
usability guidelines)

25. 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

26. 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?!

27. 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?

28. Website of...
Yesterday
Is 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)

29. Website of...
Yesterday
Tomorrow

30. 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

31. What shall we do then?

32. • 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?

33. Image ref 11/
Tailor interactions and UI elements for your app!
...contribute to the evolution of UIs...

34. Image ref 12/
And be brave and creative with your digital design!

35. Thanks!
Petr Kosnar
IamPetr.com
@faxecz

36. 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/)