Re: [IxDA Discuss] Editing of profile details
Good question Maybe there is not one and only correct answer to this question. I think the main thing is maintaining the consistency of the methods. Similar operations should always look and feel the same to the user so that he can utilize his prior experience and knowledge. You can introduce new use methods if they simplify the user experience. But you cannot underestimate the users ability to understand the meaning of the interface. Sometimes simplifying may make things worse because you have to unlearn the old complicated methods. You might have to explain some methods explicitly. It also depends on whether the service is for one-time users or for recurring use. You can teach new tricks (not too complicated) to regular users. You need to step in the shoes of the weakest user (if you deem him/her important). Specifying user personas helps. Would your granny be able to use it? How would you descripe the main example users? Should the user make profile updates in pop-up or in the same place? I prefer editing things in the same place. It is natural. But I still use both approaches. I prefer making content updates directly in the content. Profile details can be updated in a different page or pop-up window or layer because this data is often displayed in several places and profile data often contains details and information which is not shown to all user groups. Still it can be a good idea to enable updating someprofile data directly in the actual place where it is displayed. You need to make the editing state visible to user so that he/she always knows what exactly is happening and what is he/she required to do. I also think it is important to minimize the stages in the processes. And if the operation has several steps, user should be told how many steps is there going to be, what do each step mean, in which stage of the process he is currently, and get a confirmation of succesful data update in the end. Whatever approach you choose - be consistent, do not assume that all users automatically understand what to do and in which order. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48669 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Editing of profile details
One approach to editing profile details (title, status, address, mission statement, etc.), is to edit them in place, AJAX-style. An alternative approach is to use a specialized page, tab or pop-up, with some variation of a submit action. I am designing an interface for a project in a corporate environment, and I find that as the data gets more complex, it's not easy to choose the correct approach, or to mix and match. When i look for examples from teams I follow (Facebook and LinkedIn come to mind) it seems to me they have similar headaches. I am looking for an example of a very slick web 2.0 solution in a mainstream platform with moderately complex data (managing lists of items, not just name-and-address-and-photo). I am also wondering what can these days be assumed about the familiarity of the general public with Facebook and LinkedIn (for example). Would you require editing on-place in the way Facebook does, if you were designing for different age groups? Your thoughts? Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
