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Warning on valve #24 and #63
Warning indicators is something we all have on our computers. It can be from lowest variation - like you mailbox's task folder - to critical applications like an oilrig interface. Most of these programs do not really help you. They do indicate warnings, which are fine - but they fail to indicate which warning you should direct your attention to.
In the headline I wrote "warning in valve #24 and #63". Which one is the most important one? What if I told that choosing the wrong one would result in an explosion because one of them contains highly flammable gasoline (the other water).
Indicate Warning Levels
The solution is to indicate a warning level. This enables the viewer to know what to take care of first.
Example (see below): In "Alert Panel #1" we have the normal way of indicating warnings. We have 6 items all colored with the same red color. In "Alert Panel #2" we have a much more usable panel. Each item is indicated with a warning level so that we quickly focus our attention on the most important one.
Warning panels with severity levels can drastically enhance usability
This is a rather simple solution. It does take more time to implement since you need to provide the computer with adequate information to determine the warning level. But, the result is striking.
Without warning levels, the warnings will essentially slow you down (you have to spend time deciding which one to focus one) - or in worse cases, it causes you to make wrong decisions. With warning level you have an interface that assists you and makes you more effective.
Case study: Bug Tracking System
Bug Tracking system with visual
warning levels
What I did was that I arranged the interface in such a way the most important bug would be displayed first and color-coded to indicate how serious it was (within each sub-system).
This enables the developers to take quick look at the list and immediately know what to do next - Instead of using the time fixing low priority bugs.
Read also:
- Usability Severity Rating - Improved (Baekdal.com, 2005)
Published: Jul. 11, 2004 in Usability
Thomas Baekdal is a Writer, Interaction Designer, Change Advocate and Project Manager.