.jpg)
User control and freedom
Elisha Peters 30/04/2021
Elisha Peters 30/04/2021
We often depict UX design with the consumer-centric operation, keeping that in mind, UX understands, users might choose system functions by mistake or they happen
to change their mind. This system shall be developed to provide an emergency exit or the undo methods, offering to change the user’s unwanted decision.
UX design should provide flexibility to the users, to undo and edit the operation that’s no longer desired, giving them enough freedom to handle their mistakes.
When the UX design provides the undo and edit options to the user, it offers them control over their operation. Users should have the option to delete their mistake or undo
something they have accidentally deleted and save themselves going into the pot.
For example- online shopping websites, Flipkart, Myntra, and amazon; provide control and freedom to their customers. It gives the option of canceling the purchase
whenever they desire. They offer easy refunds and the appreciable thing is that these websites offer the feature to change the address even after the purchase has been
made.
Imagine moving to a new address and being unable to change your address on the website. It’s figuratively painful!
When you enter a theatre room, the moment you enter and settle in. The typical neon red lights display the ‘exit’ on/above the exit door. Similarly, while designing the website the option for an exit, cancel, and close signs should be positioned where it’s easy to find and well signposted. The designing team should use plain text and universal icons to display exit and close options. For example, use ‘exit/cancel/close’ instead of ‘X’ and use back or an arrow facing left instead of ‘<’ Building these exit links will be easily discoverable to the user, hence their experience goes smooth.
Users should always be able to go back after they have opened a new page. On the internet, users depend on the browser’s ‘back’ button to navigate to the previous page
rather than using the website’s navigation buttons. Sometimes the users don’t notice and open a link in a new tab and then they struggle to go back.
Websites should always check if their ‘back’ buttons functions or not, and if it’s deliberately done to make their sites sticky, the user will try the browser ‘aback’ button, and
instead of returning to the previous screen, they can suffer from a timeout message and lose their program. This will frustrate your users and wouldn't be astounding that if
they won’t return to your website.
Despite forcing your users by inactivated ‘back’ button, websites should focus on presenting valuable content to make them what to stay and come back. Designers
create functioning and easily discoverable ‘back’ buttons for easy and smooth user experiences.
Meet Users’ Expectations When Using a Back Link.
As mentioned above the visitors uses the browser's navigation bar to go back to the previous screen and usually when they use full-screen overlay, they tend to be taken
out of the overlay and in fact out of the page they intend to go back to. The users don’t expect to be taken out of the page; they desire to move back to the page that they
popped out from.
It is the UX designer's job to showcase the close link or an X icon where it is easily seen and accessible to the user that they don’t go two steps back rather than once.
There are different variants to the backlinks in many apps now. On Instagram, there are two ways of watching content. One is scrolling vertically (up-down) the other is
swiping from (left-right) so when the user is watching general videos or pictures they scroll down to move ahead, so when the user wants to go back to a certain video he/
she scrolls upwards rather than clicking on the apps back link or the browsers. If the user is watching IGTV there, they need to swipe. (left-right) similarly, if they want to go
back and re-watch content, the user swipes left.
All of these options are very clear and easy to use, hence Instagram is very accessible.
UX designers should display the ‘cancel’ option where it’s easy to find and quick to execute. It could be about anything, downloading, purchase or transferring money.
There should be a clear difference between close and cancel. Some designs are built this way that it displays an ‘X' icon despite a plain visible text ‘ CANCEL.’ This creates
confusion and a user might be a mistake by ‘X’ for close rather than cancel.
It is important to distinguish between them too. Although clicking on back and close links will work but this will create a user error.
While designing, the human factor should always be the prime factor as the users tend to change their decision or mistakenly delete something.
The UX designer should provide an undo button or an edit button. It could be through many ways like if the user has typed a paragraph and accidentally deletes it, there
should be an undo button; just like MS Word does. Ms word comes up with ‘ctrl-Z to save the user's day. Or while using an online shopping website/app, the user should be
able to remove a product from its cart.
Introducing an undo button is necessary but what’s equally necessary is to display the undo button where it’s easily found.
The UX desktop designers shouldn't assume the users to know the keyboard shortcuts and even if the users are aware of it, the website still ought to make it easily
discoverable.
For example, when you send a message on Gmail, right after you send the mail. Gmail gives out a short template offering to undo the message. That is a smart UX design;
users will love and stick to the site/app.
A good UX design ensures the freedom and control of its users. The user should be able to cancel the task, undo the operation and go back without using the browser’s navigation bar. Keeping these things in mind, your user will be far away from any confusion or disorientation.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *