an object used to operate a physical or virtual device. For questions regarding how to present and implement controls for a particular interface or interaction.
3
votes
2answers
56 views
Is it better to mirror a real-world system for specialized users?
I'm designing a web interface for a control-center kind of thing that's extremely information-dense because it controls a fairly complex system. To an outsider, it's kind of been like trying to make ...
2
votes
0answers
33 views
CLI: How should I order sub-commands in usage messages?
I'm developing a tool with a command line interface. I am seeking the clearest, most obvious/user-friendly way of ordering the sub-commands in the usage/error messages.
The nature of the tool is that ...
4
votes
2answers
33 views
Alternative design options to context menu on Windows Phone
On Windows Phone it's possible to provide a context menu to the user when an item is long pressed.
I have a list of items (waypoints the user has added to a map) which I'd like the user to perform ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
CLI: How should I order arguments to my import/export commands?
I'm developing a distributed project management tool with a command line interface. I have two commands relating to initially copying a project to/from a hub. The export command looks like this:
prog ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Where to put element controls?
I have the following:
I think it's less than ideal because the edit/delete buttons are requiring me to waste a bunch of vertical whitespace within the element.
Options that I can think of:
...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Should icons in a toolbar reference an action or the object?
When deciding on which icon to use in a toolbar is it better for an icon to reference the action or the object?
Example:
Action = Export data to excel.
The object in this case is Excel (destination ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Optimal way to handle multiple many-to-one attributes in a grid control
We are working in web app where we have parent records that have multiple attributes that have many-to-one attribute values tied to them. We are attempting to list these parent records in a grid ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Thoughts on putting controls in the top horizontal bar?
Is there any authoritative overview of the pros/cons of using the topmost menubar to host action items that change depending on context? An example that comes to mind immediately is Microsoft's ...
3
votes
2answers
171 views
Why does the Xbox controller have non-symmetrical analog sticks?
The image below shows the controllers of the three eighth-generation consoles (Xbox One, PS4, Wii U).
As you can see, both the PS4 and Wii U controllers have symmetrical analog sticks, which seems ...
4
votes
3answers
88 views
Who should be able to pause/restart/quit the game in a turn based game?
I have a game that consists of players making moves in turn, on a single console (Xbox 360).
Up to 16 players can play in one game. The xbox can have up to 4 controllers associated/connected to one ...
0
votes
2answers
108 views
The best practices for a rating bar/slider/buttons
I need to make a rating scale input device that satisfies the following requirements:
1) Each value must be associated with a number to the user.
2) It must be immediately clear that this thing ...
5
votes
2answers
70 views
Choice Box or Tabs for multiple contents in a view [duplicate]
I am going to display a small view in my application that contains contents to be picked. The contents are sorted in an undetermined quantity of categories.
Would it be preferred to sort them in ...
5
votes
1answer
89 views
Best Practices in keyboard navigation of JavaScript Controls?
Apparently "best practice" when creating DHTML widgets, such as menus etc., is to allow users to navigate to the widget using the tab key, and navigate within the widget using arrow keys. This follows ...
27
votes
2answers
1k views
Why did Microsoft put close and minimize buttons on the Office splash screens?
Starting with Office 2010, Microsoft put a minimize and close button on the upper right corner of the splash screens of the various Office apps. But, the splash screen is up for such a short time, ...
5
votes
3answers
100 views
Select numerical value with +/- buttons or manually entering?
The design I'm working on has the user assigning a value to each Item, then if the value is more than 1, a second dependent attribute appears (as shown). I want the numbers to be large and not default ...
2
votes
5answers
131 views
3-state control on/off/suspended
I’m creating a prototype for a system which will give the user to control a specific feature in the system by switching it on and off. To control the feature we have a 3-state control:
on
off
...
6
votes
3answers
143 views
What is the best way to handle multiple To and From ranges?
Our users need to specify multiple ranges of quantities and specify a price for each range. I can't post an image or I would show this concept mocked-up.
My question is: Imagine the user is able ...
6
votes
2answers
102 views
Group of controls depending on value of combo box
In a UI, I get the user to make a selection from a combo box. This selection influences what other controls will need to be shown. There are also other controls that need to be shown, independently of ...
3
votes
4answers
153 views
iPad full screen in landscape mode - which side to put on my controls panel?
I have an app which helps the user to design a full screen sized postcard. The result is exactly what the user sees on the screen.
Because a lot of users scan things in an F pattern, I assume that ...
7
votes
2answers
183 views
TreeTable as a flexible condition/filter editor
I face the task to create condition/filter editor every time I need to develop a data/request/event processing system. As usual, there is no universal one and only solution.
Google shows a lot of ...
9
votes
2answers
101 views
Borders editing control usability
I need a simple and intuitive control for editing rectangle borders.
At the moment I have the following:
At the left - preview box and current border selector at the same time. User can click on ...
2
votes
3answers
123 views
What is the preferred way to toggle fullscreen vs fullscreen with panels on iPhone/iPad?
I have a full screen iPad app that deals with graphics. The user has full screen as canvas, with extra controls added along the bottom and right side of the screen.
I'm looking for an intuitive way ...
2
votes
2answers
83 views
Best option for data grid records that each can have different multiple choices
Below is a mock up of the screen, and I'm not sure of the best way to do the Delay Reasons in this case.
Each service can have multiple delay reasons and each service can have different delay ...
1
vote
3answers
120 views
Android widget : how to tell users that a similar looking control does not perform same?
In my android application I am developing a desktop widget that mirrors many important tasks supported by my application. This widget contains two buttons that mirroring their counterparts in the app ...
1
vote
2answers
109 views
Do users need 3 ways to change sound volume on their computer?
Virtually every video/audio software has volume controls. Why is software control needed if there exist two other controls: operating system and hardware volume controls?
Is it better to remove ...
3
votes
1answer
70 views
App menu created from keywords
I have application which allow users to select video and play it. I have for each video few keywords and with help of WordNet I created tree from these keywords. So now user can go from generally ...
8
votes
2answers
143 views
What's the official name of concept of input boxes with tags?
I'm looking for an implementation and the (official) name of this kind of control where it's a inputbox where we can add multiple tags into it. By example, it is used in JIRA like this capture (and ...
106
votes
15answers
7k views
Who needs an external on/off Wi-Fi button?
It puzzles me that there are Laptops which are shipped with external physical Wi-Fi buttons. I see no real use of it, but it might have a historical explanation?! The only time one notice the external ...
4
votes
4answers
164 views
Controls on moving controls?
It hit me today when driving home from work turning right in a highly busy crossing. I wanted to lower the music volume but couldn’t find the control without looking. On previous cars I’ve owned, the ...
13
votes
6answers
531 views
Greyed-Out vs Invisible
What is a good criterion or rule-of-thumb for determining when a control should be greyed-out and when should it be completely invisible?
12
votes
9answers
807 views
How do you show a locked slider?
I have an application with a slider, but I need to be able to lock the slider, and have it clear to the user that it is locked - simply disabling it is not an option. By locked I mean that you are ...
8
votes
4answers
234 views
Is the middle power option 50% or 60%?
A friend of mine has a blender with 6 control selections: One off position, and five power settings in order of less to more power. Example below:
A discussion has erupted over whether or not the ...
4
votes
2answers
80 views
Tap or Drag to mark a specific point?
The scenario
We have a screen with a view containing many small symbols. The user will have to choose a single element. In order to find the correct element, he'll have to pinch and pan. As you can ...
13
votes
7answers
780 views
How to incorporate a “never” value on a slider?
I have a slider in a web page (similar to this one) to control the the duration of how long to keep an item before it is removed:
The range of values goes from 0 to 90, with the value 0 being used ...
2
votes
2answers
175 views
Is there a proper name for the accordion-like stacked panels?
Essentially, it's a collection of panels, stacked towards the top. Each can be expanded or collapsed on its own. When a header is expanded, the headers below it "stick" to its bottom. This is in ...
3
votes
4answers
108 views
Selecting Multiple Ranges
We have a UI requirement, where users need to be able to create several ranges from 0-1000.
Without overlap (including overlap from other parent records)
So, parent 1, has range 0-10, 20-30, 50-55.
...
3
votes
4answers
230 views
Slider alternative
I am struggling with a client who has a (slightly irrational) dislike of slider controls.
I need to provide an alternative that can accommodate 233 selection points, of which maybe 10 are common ...
3
votes
2answers
132 views
Is removing the video control playbar a dark pattern?
Lately, I've been finding more and more videos (mostly those with marketing purposes) that are don't have the so called "playbar", ie. the timeline control that allows you to jump inside the video to ...
1
vote
5answers
232 views
Speed vs Quality UI Pattern
I'm trying to come up with a good disposition of UI elements to help depict Function Speed vs Quality.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Are the Labels Right / Informative Enough?
Is the ...
6
votes
4answers
171 views
Hide controls on a touch enabled device and only show them if someone uses a mouse?
We're building a responsive web site and we're having a discussion about how to display controls on a map. The theory is that people with touch-enabled devices do not need to see zoom sliders because ...
2
votes
4answers
295 views
Combining email and phone inputs into a single text field
Let's say you want to combine both email and phone input into a single text field because you require either or, not both. What's the best way would you approach this? As far as making it clear ...
3
votes
1answer
248 views
slider vs. select box / dropdown
I've got a web app with two related UIs for adjusting a value. The first allows the user to add or subtract up to 100% of the amount. It's for an estimate, so rough ranges (e.g. every 10%) would be ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
Keyboard support for dropdown widget [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Patterns for keyboard accessible drop down lists
I have developed an html/javascript drop down widget. At the moment I want to enhance the keyboard support for this ...
7
votes
8answers
491 views
Is there ever a good use case for a software rotary knob (dial)?
I love physical dials and knobs, they are great for adjusting something just the right amount without looking at it. They are even great for controlling an absolute value like volume because they stop ...
5
votes
2answers
342 views
What's the recommended way to use “question mark” icon?
I develop a desktop application, and I'd like to add a "question mark" icon besides one of the textbox (that describes the meaning of that textbox).
My question is what the common way to use the ...
2
votes
2answers
101 views
Touch control of value with high range [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Suitable alternative to trackbar control
In our application, there are settings that have a high dynamic range (e.g. 0-10000 in steps of 0.1). I am in need of a UI to ...
2
votes
2answers
145 views
How to display complex, interactive grid?
I am working on the admin component to a web app that will create/manage web sites for multiple clients. This admin portion will determine what pages/features will be included, as well as what ...
3
votes
3answers
137 views
Is there a name for a control which allows a user to add/remove table rows?
I am building a control which is a table containing other controls (text boxes and dropdown lists) where the user can add/remove rows to the table. I am unsure of what to name this control and am ...
3
votes
2answers
132 views
Should buttons be disabled, removed or replaced with an alert message if they are currently unavailable for use?
I take what happens on Stack Exchange as example.
When you used all your votes to close questions, the dialog box is still shown, and (if you select the question that is duplicated) the "Vote To ...
18
votes
2answers
4k views
Do spinner-based date pickers on iOS & Android detract from the user's experience?
Generally speaking, the rule of thumb on mobile devices is to follow the platform conventions, and that native controls are almost always better than custom UIs. However, I'm at a loss as to whether ...
