Error Messages And Confirmations; A Usability Test - Nokia SERIES 30 Developer's Manual

Proportional fonts are used in header text, and if the header text is too long, it is cut automatically. Cut
titles are usually better than abbreviations, because the user may be confused by unfamiliar
abbreviations.
Although short words are recommended for element labels, acronyms that are not well known by the
target user group should be avoided. The same label should always be used for the same thing,
especially with function labels such as Delete, Remove, Erase, Clear, and Destroy.
2.9

Error Messages and Confirmations

It is especially irritating for users to receive error messages and be asked to correct the input. Services
should be very flexible when interpreting input, e.g., allowing several different formats for date and
time. If an error message must be shown, it should be helpful and polite, explaining why the action
could not be executed, and providing an easy way to correct the situation.
After the user has chosen a command that will carry out an action such as destroying information or
moving money, it is essential to provide a confirmation page before executing the action. It should
also be easy for the user to check the effects of the action. For example, when deleting an item, it is
best to first ask for confirmation and then inform the user that the deletion was executed successfully.
2.10

A Usability Test

It is always good to perform a usability test for new applications. People who have not been involved
in the design or development of an application tend to notice potential usability problems that are
often not obvious to those who know the design by heart. Usability tests should always be performed
as early as possible in the development process. Any necessary changes resulting from the tests can
then be implemented within the development timetable. Testers who are representative of the future
end users should be used. At the least, tests should be conducted on a small scale if the schedule does
not allow for extensive testing.
WAP Service Developer's Guide for Nokia Series 30 Phones with WML Browser
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