From the course: Interaction Design for the Web
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Inductive interfaces
- Most computer screens are deductive. The designer puts a set of controls, like checkboxes, text entry fields, selection areas, and so on, on the screen, and users must deduce what's required in order to work with the interface. For instance, this screen from setting user account permissions is a little bit like a puzzle. You have to deduce that selecting a user from the list will enable the buttons underneath and that certain buttons will allow you to change their security access in particular ways. Nowhere on the screen does it tell you what to do or what the security options are. The information is hidden away and requires people to know some details about how account permissions work before they can make changes. There is an alternative. Instead of forcing the screen to tell a story, inductive interfaces induce or encourage users to move through the product by answering two questions. What am I supposed to do now? And where do I go to accomplish my next task? Probably the…
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