Usability bugs
Random petty annoyances in the usability world:
- When a web site makes me log in, but has nowhere for me to log out.
- When a site makes me log in more than once (for instance, once to enter a members-only section, and again to comment on a discussion forum).
- When my e-mail program randomly logs me out. Hello, I can see a security reason if I haven’t touched it for hours, but don’t do it when I’ve just used it minutes ago!
- When my client’s Outlook logs me out when I’m in the middle of writing an e-mail. Same thing; I get the security aspect of not being touched for hours, but I’m using it!
- When I send something to print and specify black only, but just because one of the coloured inks is low, I have to push a button on the printer itself that says “print in black only.”
- When the printer manufacturer bugs me to fill out a survey about my printer use, saying how valuable my feedback is. Then the survey only asks things like how many printers are in the house and if I use them for personal or business use, and doesn’t offer an open-ended question where I can actually give some feedback.
But, hey, it’s Friday afternoon and the sun is shining. So I’m getting off the computer now. If you’re still on, what bugs you?
How about a secure client site that requires me to change my password frequently, when my online banking service doesn’t?
How about the sites that assign you a long, confusing password that you’ll never remember
I could go on… and probably will
…or the sites that make you sign in with an e-mail address AND a password AND a userID, but when you try to choose one, keep telling you that userID is taken. I have read about IDs that incorporate bad language after a few rounds of “sorry, that userID is taken.”
Sites that don’t give clear direction upfront as to what is required in a password, and you have to try to come up with a password three times before you meet all their requirements.
Password must be more than 6 characters
Password must not have spaces
Arghhh!