#usability fail

#Usability #Fail: Eskom’s Loadshedding Status is of no help

We’re back to loadshedding again! Everyone knows this, it’s all over the news.

Yet, one company seems to be blissfully dreaming on that scheduling powercuts is a perfectly normal practice. And thus, Eskom doesn’t even warn about the upcoming loadshedding:

This morning at 07:42 I wanted to check if loadshedding is indeed happening and thought going straight to the source would give…

Usability Fail: Lots of White Space but narrow Scroll Bar

  I often experience difficulties clicking on the right things, be it with a mouse or tapping it. I miss or I click the wrong button or, as in this case:

I highlight all the times instead of sliding down the scroll bar to the correct time.

  Creating an event in Google Calendar is not so easy when trying to hit the narrow scroll bar.

It is easy to blame yourself, because at first it…

#Facebook #AI #Fail: How can I #spam myself? #AIFail #ArtificialIntelligenceFail

Facebook thrives on FOMO, the Fear Of Missing Out, it seems.

It’s a known dark pattern that Facebook sends you pseudo notifications to keep you glued to their platform for longer.

But it appears to be overly active with its AI review of content, too:

So it happens that I’m being warned about my own post on my own FB page as spam.

Not sure how a post about my pet rats…

#Usability #Fail: #Visa #update #email #notifications are in #spam

Having recently submitted a new visa application, I was asked if I wanted an SMS alert when the result is back in Cape Town. It only costs R20.

I denied and asked how else I would be notified about my visa outcome. I was told I’d have to log in to check for updates myself.

I wondered why I wouldn’t receive an email, but left it as that.

Turns out, I do receive email updates for…

#Usability #Fail: How NOT to do an #error 404 "page not found" #message. #Good #Practice #Tip by #YoursTrulyJuly

Encounting an error is not a pleasant experience, but to be confronted with a blank page as a result is worse.

Or, in tech terms: A usability fail.

This site offers no help to get out of this error situation.

It completely interrupts the user flow.

Coming to this page is a dead end, with no links to click and no text to comfort.

Good Practice Tip: Even a 404 error can be fun.

#Usability #Fail: #Microsoft takes 1 month to #update #account #info...

For security purposes I often get asked by apps if my account information is still up to date.

Diligently I check and update accordingly.

So I did when I was prompted by Microsoft: I thought adding my phone number could be a good idea.

Wrong!

Microsoft, for whatever reason, takes 30 days (!!!) to update your account info.

Good news? Somebody explain to me why…

#Usability #Fail: #Optional #OptIn is a #required field.

As a general rule I don’t sign up for newsletters and such to keep my inbox free from clutter.

However, as shown in the screenshot below, I could not proceed with the registration when I unticked the opt-in option.

The error message: “This field is required.”

So I’m forced to keep the opt-in checked, otherwise I cannot register.

Also a way to get subscribers.

Seeing this is…

#GoodDesign: The #button to #continue is on the right.

  Sometimes, as if it’s not tough enough having to meet the demands of a bureaucratic system,

messy design makes you almost click the wrong button…

  This form is a mess and represents several usability fails in its formatting and design.

  Usability Fail 1: Both buttons are in the same colour and design

When a Primary Action Is Positive (for example ‘Send’ or ‘Submit’) The primary action…