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Thread: This toggle button is confusing

  1. #1
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    This toggle button is confusing



    Which is it?? I don't understand this button.

    Does it mean that it is currently in ON state? Or OFF state?
    Does it mean that by pressing it I will enable ON state or disable ON state?

    This is probably the most confusing UI element I've ever seen in my life.


  2. #2
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    Re: This toggle button is confusing

    Quote Originally Posted by argvar View Post


    Which is it?? I don't understand this button.

    Does it mean that it is currently in ON state? Or OFF state?
    Does it mean that by pressing it I will enable ON state or disable ON state?

    This is probably the most confusing UI element I've ever seen in my life.

    It means that it's in the "On" state.
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  3. #3
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    Re: This toggle button is confusing

    It's only confusing if you think it through too much. I have the same issue with play/pause buttons on players. Is the icon I am seeing the current state or the effect if I press the button.

    But in this case if it is not immediately obvious that the button is in the ON state, just click on it, it will become obvious then that it had been disabled.
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  4. #4
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    Re: This toggle button is confusing

    I think it's an unnecessarily obscure way of conveying a simple choice between two states.

    I come from Windows and I've never seen this presentation there.

    Already I have forgotten how this button works. I guess bookmarking this page will help.

    IMO it utterly fails in user testing, I think probably 40-60% of users will guess wrong what it does without having seen this type of button before. It is supposed to be intuitive and without-thought-easy to understand how it works.

  5. #5
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    Re: This toggle button is confusing

    Quote Originally Posted by argvar View Post
    I think it's an unnecessarily obscure way of conveying a simple choice between two states.

    I come from Windows and I've never seen this presentation there.

    Already I have forgotten how this button works. I guess bookmarking this page will help.

    IMO it utterly fails in user testing, I think probably 40-60% of users will guess wrong what it does without having seen this type of button before. It is supposed to be intuitive and without-thought-easy to understand how it works.
    If it were me, I'd click it just to see!

    "Intuitive" is fairly subjective, actually. [The debate between Unity lovers and Unity haters is a case in point!] Mostly, we like what we're used to. Give yourself some time to explore and learn your new system.
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  6. #6
    monkeybrain2012 is offline Grande Half-n-Half Cinnamon Ubuntu
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    Re: This toggle button is confusing

    Quote Originally Posted by argvar View Post
    I come from Windows and I've never seen this presentation there.
    ..
    IMO it utterly fails in user testing, I think probably 40-60% of users will guess wrong what it does without having seen this type of button before. It is supposed to be intuitive and without-thought-easy to understand how it works.
    It is pretty obvious. But then too much Windows may be bad for brain cells.

  7. #7
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    Re: This toggle button is confusing

    It was obvious to me when it first came out.

    Quote Originally Posted by argvar View Post
    IMO it utterly fails in user testing, I think probably 40-60% of users will guess wrong what it does without having seen this type of button before. It is supposed to be intuitive and without-thought-easy to understand how it works.
    Actually, Canonical does put their interface through a lot of user testing and make changes accordingly. Their data is probably a little more accurate than your estimate

    Apparently, Samsung thought this slider style was intuitive enough. They adopted it for their Galaxy phones, which are I believe the second most popular smart phone series available...
    Jane, stop this crazy thing!

  8. #8
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    Re: This toggle button is confusing

    ... the one I hate is the padlock icon in the 'User Accounts' tool (shows an UNlocked padlock when the setting is locked, which toggles to a LOCKED padlock when you unlock it)

  9. #9
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    Re: This toggle button is confusing

    Quote Originally Posted by argvar View Post
    I think it's an unnecessarily obscure way of conveying a simple choice between two states.
    It's not really that obscure, I've seen switches like that in real life, and the Android 4 settings panel has switches exactly the same.

    If the words confuse you, then just look at the highlight. If it's lit up (Orange), it's on. If it's not lit (Grey) it's off.

    Canonical and Google both do user testing, and I have to admit that I never even noticed a potential for confusion until you brought it up.
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  10. #10
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    Re: This toggle button is confusing

    This is probably the most confusing UI element I've ever seen in my life.
    and that is not the most exaggerated statement I have seen or heard. Plenty of people have made statements that are more exaggerated than that. Exaggeration for the sake of emphasis, I except. But exaggeration for the sake of insult I discount as prejudiced thinking.
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