Mark - I would say that if it's a potentially disruptive new feature - then call it out in some way - if it's a catch up feature - let it soft-launch because as you intimate - it draws attention to the fact that you are a latecomer and playing catch-up... This actually just happened to me last night when I realzies that my emails in gmail are automagically getting labeld "Inbox" with a little (x) for me to remove or re-label the message. I thought it was cool - but so minor there was no reason to call it out, but when I discovered it - I thought to myself, "Self - this is pretty cool - because most people don't even use labels with gmail - so perhaps this might improve more users experience with the product.
Not really insightful - just my thoughts. On Jan 23, 2008 10:15 AM, Mark Schraad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > If your are introducing a new feature on a consumer web site, does it > always need to be overtly called out? Particularly if it a catch up feature > (your competition already has something similar). I am wondering if there is > benefit in letting the user discover a cool feature (any behaviorists out > there?) - as opposed to directing their attention to it? Has anyone had this > conversation or have insights to the issue? > > Thanks -Mark > > > > ________________________________________________________________ > *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* > February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA > Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > -- ~ will "Where you innovate, how you innovate, and what you innovate are design problems" ------------------------------------------------------- will evans user experience architect [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------- ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
