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I'm designing a mobile app for home automation.

  • Shown at the end of this question is the remote page, which allows the user to control doors and gates.

We have to provide the following three types of gates:

  1. Gate for entry for the cars. (Might be garage or just a gate)

  2. Smaller gate next to the cars gate for pedestrians.

  3. Main entry door to the building/Villa.

    • The following picture shows the car's gate and the pedestrian door.

What should I name these doors and gates in the UI? Currently I'm doing it like this: 1. Gate 2. Door (Maybe I'll switch to pedestrian gate) 3. (Unable to decide)

Remote page controlsEntrance

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closed as primarily opinion-based by Code Maverick, Graham Herrli, Matt Obee, Ben Brocka Jan 14 '15 at 17:05

Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

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    Does it not depend on the house? Should the user not be able to set their own names for their own doors and gates? – Matt Obee Jan 14 '15 at 9:41
  • @MattObee.. Currently it is fixed. – user3490458 Jan 14 '15 at 9:41
  • This question is off-topic. There is a SX site for the use of the English language. I am also tempted to say something about the GUI shown — it would be nothing good. – Crissov Jan 14 '15 at 14:18
  • This question appears to be off-topic because it belongs on English Language & Usage(english.stackexchange.com). – Code Maverick Jan 14 '15 at 14:40
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Fixed names for variable circumstances is, in itself, fairly bad UX: if you can change that, I suggest you do.

If it's not possible to change, however, I'd just name them after whatever goes through it: "Car" and "Pedestrian" - the user presumably knows what the app is for (opening gates) already, so just needs an identifier

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  • Sadly, It's not feasible to change the UX at this point. The page has controls related to security system as well (top 2 buttons in the circle, see remote page above). So, I believe the identifiers must be more explicit. – user3490458 Jan 14 '15 at 10:36
  • Car / Pedestrian / House ? – PhillipW Jan 14 '15 at 12:13
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    If you have other options, then explicit but still specific options may be best: "Car Gate", "Pedestrian Gate" - and if possible, add a setting to change "Car Gate" to "Garage" when needed (this may also change Pedestrian Gate to just "Gate", depending on your use case) – Jon Story Jan 14 '15 at 12:14

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