The body of terms used with a particular technical application in a subject of study, theory, profession, etc.
16
votes
5answers
2k views
The notification tray at the top of Stack Exchange sites: what is it called? And are there other good examples of this?
I'm trying to clean up notifications for a client site and was wondering if the notification pattern that Stack Exchange employs has a name that I can use to search for more examples.
54
votes
23answers
4k views
Better term for “user” [closed]
I often have to explain some aspect of an application, and often need to refer to users. I really don't like the term as it is not something with a good connotation (e.g. drug users) to the ...
15
votes
5answers
675 views
How can I deal with diverse gender identities in user profiles?
I'm trying to work out the wording for (preferably) a gender dropdown in a user profile of a site I'm working on. I want to be inclusive of people who don't gender orient to either male or female ( ...
8
votes
4answers
806 views
What is the top navigation called when it is common to a network or suite of websites?
What is the top navigation bar called when it is common to a suite or network of sites with a common login, as in StackExchange, 37 Signals (Basecamp, Backpack, etc.), or Google Apps for Your Domain?
...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
What does “end-user” mean?
UX folks like to talk of the "end user" (examples in 1 2 3), because that is whom they are advocating for. However, the term is somewhat ambiguous: assuming I write an UI library, is the end-user the ...
13
votes
4answers
6k views
What is the exact difference between fluid and responsive design?
What is the exact difference between fluid and responsive design?
I am bit confused about fluid and responsive design. Fluid is the one where we give width in percentages so that design will look ...
22
votes
2answers
439 views
Defining “Instantaneous” as part of usability acceptance criteria
The Setup
I have run into this problem time and time again. An interface is performing slow and QA and/or Engineering come back and ask, "can you please define the acceptance criteria for how fast ...
26
votes
11answers
539 views
Usability/UX elevator pitch?
Whenever I try to introduce someone to usability/ux, I always find myself having to explain the following:
The definition of usability/ux.
The fact that I make web site easier and more pleasant to ...
17
votes
5answers
4k views
What is this side menu called that can be found in many multi-touch apps, and where does it originate from?
It can be found for example in the YouTube and Facebook app.
27
votes
4answers
1k views
You, Me, or Joe Soap
When listing content in an application (think of a list of documents) we show the name of the document and the name of the author.
What should be shown for the author's name when the person reading ...
14
votes
3answers
958 views
Is user experience design (UXD) equal to user centered design (UCD)?
Can user experience design (UXD) and user centered design (UCD) be considered the same?
If not, how do they relate to each other and how do they differ?
10
votes
5answers
977 views
How broad is the definition of affordance?
While discussing the need for affordances to be consistent, comments between me and JeroenEijkhof indicate we don't have a similar interpretation of the term 'affordance'.
I claimed that something ...
7
votes
2answers
381 views
What is modal about a modal dialog?
I'm reading a lot about modal dialogs.
I know(?) what modal means, having read Raskin's "The Humane Interface". I can understand what's modal about a toolbar in a drawing program (select mode, draw ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the difference between a 'slider', a 'gallery' and a 'carousel'?
From a pattern perspective is there a difference? Or are they really different names for the same thing?
2
votes
3answers
202 views
UI: name of multiple column interface?
Is there a "proper" name for the UI wherein it has multiple columns, and as you interact with the first column, the second column gets populated with with appropriate data? These columns act as a ...
15
votes
2answers
512 views
What is User Experience (UX)?
I've looked at this site for the first time today. I've checked About, the FAQ and the FAQ and searched, and I don't seem to be able to find an answer on this site.
These are the closest I can find:
...
31
votes
13answers
8k views
Is it true that “the only 'intuitive' interface is the nipple”?
Everyone knows the famous quote (by Bruce Ediger or Steve Jobs, I'm not sure):
The only "intuitive" interface is the nipple. After that it's all learned.
It's an amusing gem, but is it really ...
14
votes
1answer
1k views
When to use “join,” “register,” or “sign up”?
For a user, when is it better to be asked to do the following:
"Sign In" vs. "Log in"
"Join" vs. "Register" vs. "Sign Up"
"Sign Out" vs. "Log out"
Different websites seem to use them differently, ...
5
votes
3answers
456 views
What is the UI pattern used for managing people in Google+ called?
I've tried to find more info on this particular UI pattern Google+ exposes, and I'm sure I've seen it before, but still, I haven't been able to find references to it.
If you go to the Circles section ...
8
votes
13answers
552 views
What's a better way to refer to an Intranet site?
I've found most of our users are totally unaware of the term, though it's plastered on the front page of our Intranet site and the desktop icon they use to get to the site is labeled "(Company) ...
5
votes
2answers
593 views
Hiring Web Designer/Usability Expert - What should I be looking for?
I work for a small data management/warehousing company that also focuses heavily on web applications. We are looking to "beautify" our existing web apps into something along the lines of mint.com or ...
12
votes
8answers
207 views
What's the definition of “Usability”?
I'm looking for a clear, single-sentence definition of usability.
A short definition of usability would make it much easier to convince people that usability is worth investing in. For example, a ...
3
votes
5answers
1k views
Slide out teasers near the bottom of the page?
On more and more sites now I'm seeing what I'm calling "slide out teasers" appearing at the bottom of pages. What happens is I'm scrolling down the page and nearing the bottom, and then a small box ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
What is Difference between UI and UX? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Difference between UI and UX
There are two terms in design UI and UX can anyone explain? they confuse me a lot.
22
votes
6answers
699 views
Is the term 'real-time' understood outside the tech community?
We are making a website for pixel art that will have a diverse audience.
Our leading tagline for the site is: "Real-time, collaborative pixel art." Real-time meaning updates to the pages will be ...
11
votes
1answer
351 views
Is there a name for the pattern of a categorized autocomplete?
Lately, I've noticed that Facebook search presents it's autocomplete options as a nice categorized list:
However, I'm uncertain what to call this pattern. It reminds me a bit of what Peter Morville ...
6
votes
4answers
347 views
Common/accepted name for “dropdown menus” and related kin?
What is the proper name for the UI element created by the HTML <select>...</select>?
What is the name if the user is allowed to type in their own answer (not just autocomplete to pick ...
2
votes
3answers
356 views
What is the definition of usability/ux problem?
I am about to ask for help on how to categorise usability/ux problems but after some googling I have realised that there is no standard definition of usability/ux problem. (Defining the Usability ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
Is there a term for the “auto search” that Google Instant utilizes?
Is there an official term for the automatic search that Google Instant uses once you stop typing for about 1 second? This is also used on UX.SE when searching for a user. I am looking to add this into ...
0
votes
1answer
138 views
How should I call the 'moving target' problem?
I have a problem with Swype. Every time I finish a phrase and try to hit the [Send] button, I discover that it's moved. This happens because the word suggestion bar disappears after writing the dot.
...
