Hit Ctrl+Alt+Del to log on

Windows uses legendary Control + Alt + Delete key command to fire up login screen. I’ve always wondered why did they choose so difficult combination because it brings up a serious usability problem.

Ctrl+alt+del prompt on Vista

Try hitting this command with one hand only and you’ll understand.

With many keyboards it is very difficult. You may hit AltGr instead of Alt key, but it doesn’t make it much easier. Pure finger acrobatics!

Ctrl+Alt+Delete is chosen to enhance login security but I think that making an everyday action harder really isn’t the best solution for security.

Linux and Mac OS X don’t require key combination like this to show the login form which is nice for the user. Just type your username and password and get your work done. Even if you have only one healthy hand.

Unneeded links on a website

Helping user to navigate and finding out how to use a website is often a good goal in web design. However, there are some practices which aren’t good.

Aki Björklund has written about unneeded functions on websites (in Finnish). According to Björklund, the point is: Do not take over the browser’s user interface by building functions and links which already are available in the browser.

He is absolutely right. But why? Let me explain things a little.

These unneeded functions can be found on many websites. Most often used are back, print, open in new window and add bookmark links.

By offering functions which are already present in browser you are making users dependent on your functions. Users get used to these and forget that all these functions are already present in the browser. Your design assumes that users are stupid and you are making them stupid. Or maybe your design just fails by breaking if user clicks back button in the browser.

You have to trust that they can use basic functions built in browsers. If they can’t use them, they probably have difficulties understanding your navigation or content too.

Are you sure?

Sometimes I have to give reasons why I prefer Mac OS X compared to other operating systems. Look and feel just aren’t good enough reasons to dislike Windows. Here we go.

We all have seen a dialog box requesting confirmation to a action we are about to perform. Generally speaking, using are you sure dialog boxes is a bad thing. Really. They should not be used in confirming actions we make often because we will quickly learn to ignore them and just click yes or ok. Unfortunately Windows and also Nintendo Wii both use a lot of confirmation dialogs. It is bad design.

People always make mistakes so there has to be a way to correct them. Dialog box is a fair choice when we are doing something which is really difficult or impossible to undo. E.g. installing an operating system or a massive program or perhaps writing a hard disk full of ones and zeros. Even better if we don’t ever have to show the dialog box because when starting the operation we can be 100% sure we really want to do it. 

A better way to deal with simple mistakes in everyday user interfaces, e.g. accidentally deleting an important file, is to let the action be undone. Modern desktop operating systems usually don’t just delete files immediately when using built in file manager in graphical user interface, Explorer on Windows, Finder on Mac or Nautilus on Linux desktops using Gnome desktop environment. 

Let’s see how a single file deletion from desktop is done. Most of us are familiar with these operations, but let’s think the process more deeply and compare the user interfaces.

Windows XP and Vista both have one key command to delete a file. Just hit Delete key when focus is on the file. Another way is to pull up a context menu using right mouse button and pick the Delete command from there.

File deletion dialog box in Windows Vista

File deletion in context menu in Windows Vista

Note that the Delete command is right next to Create Shortcut and Rename commands. One pixel off and you are deleting your file instead of renaming it. Both actions raise a dialog window asking confirmation for deletion, or if we read it literally, recycling. Finnish language version of Windows simply talks about trash can (actually basket) so it is easier to understand as a metaphor. Files going to trash are going to trash. Files going to be recycled are going to be reproduced or given a new home.

Anyway, you can undo the delete operation simply by key command Control+Z or opening the recycle bin and finding the deleted file there.

File deletion in context menu in Ubuntu Linux Hardy Heron using Gnome

On Gnome the process is quite similar to Windows except there is no confirmation dialog to annoy you. Hit Delete key or select Move to Trash from context menu and you’re done. Note that there are separators keeping the file deletion command away from other commands. It makes harder to accidentally hit the wrong command. File goes to trash. Undo is missing, but you may still open the trash and find your file.

File deletion in context menu in OS X Leopard

Mac OS X has some differences. You need two hit keys simultaneously to delete a file. Command key and backspace together. The reason for this is simple. It prevents mistakes. You just can’t accidentally delete a file by hitting Delete key instead of Page Down key or Function key which both lie next to Delete key on Apple keyboard. There is no confirmation dialog, file goes to Trash immediately. The context menu is similar to same menu in Gnome or perhaps I should say that context menu in Gnome is similar to one in OS X. Moving to Trash is separated from other commands. Undo works, just hit Command + Z and your file comes back or you may open the Trash and restore your file from there.

It really matters how certain things are done.

Summary

Pros

• OS X

• • Requires a two key combination to delete a file using keyboard
  • Delete command separated from other commands in context menu
  • Uses a clear metaphor (Move to Trash)
  • Possible to undo
  • Possible to retrieve from Trash

• Gnome

• • Uses a clear metaphor (Move to Trash)
  • Delete command separated from other commands in context menu
  • Possible to retrieve from Trash

• Windows XP & Vista

• • Possible to undo
  • Possible to retrieve from Recycle bin

Cons

• OS X

• • None

• Gnome

• • Single keystroke enough for operation
  • No undo

• Windows XP & Vista

• • Single keystroke enough for operation
  • Annoying dialog box confirmation
  • Bad metaphor: recycles files instead of trashing them

Use verbs as button labels

Dmitry Fadeyev – Usability Tip: Use Verbs as Labels on Buttons

In addition to Dmitry’s post, text editor Gedit on Ubuntu Linux does it right too.

Let the madness begin

Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne has used the sentence in the title of this post as opening line in his concerts, so I thought using it would be a good opening of this blog. So, let the madness begin.

I am currently 31-year-old web designer from Vantaa, Finland. I chose to write this blog in English mainly because I want to improve my skills in English language, but I also want to write for larger audience and probably get more readers.

I work for a leading company producing web sites and applications based on Microsoft technologies in Finland. I am not a Microsoft fanboy, actually quite the opposite, although I like some of their products (Office 2007 is great, Xbox 360 too). 

I use Windows every day at work but I have tried to keep my home as a Windows free zone. Two of the three computers found in my home are running Mac OS X Leopard and the third is running Ubuntu Linux. Windows installations are only found on virtual machines used for testing. 

I am also writing another blog in Finnish called Elefanttipuhetta, but in here I am going to focus on issues I run into at work and in my studies. I am studying Interactive Technology at the University of Tampere but work takes all of my time, so I am not going to graduate anytime soon on master level. Bachelor level degree is reachable during the next semester so let’s hope I can find some time to finish the first part of my studies. 

Let it be less haircut and more stuff that matters about web technologies, usability, accessibility, user interaction and how to make better software. 

However, as the old proverb says, shoemaker’s children don’t have shoes, I decided to pick a free ready-to-go theme from Wordpress theme directory until I find time to make a better one.