Yes, error prevention is a primary goal, but I will play devil's advocate here and modify that to state, prevent errors whenever possible, but if you can't prevent the error (because of system or code limitations or something else that can't be changed immediately), present a well-crafted message that explains how to prevent the error the next time. Error messages may not be the best teaching method, but one of the goals of a good error or informational message is to instruct and prevent the next error. One of the interesting aspects of our field is that the guidelines for effective error messages have been around since the late 1980s but many systems still ignore the basic pattern for good error messages. One thought about error messages is that if they are sufficient, a person may not have to call internal or external support or search a knowledge base for a problem so a good message can be cost-effective (though prevention is still better).
Chauncey On Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 7:26 AM, Elizabeth Buie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dan Saffer wrote: > >>I guess I'm questioning whether error messages are the correct way to >>"teach" users anything. > > Are you really questioning, Dan, or are you being polite and giving them the > benefit > of the doubt? :-) > > Me, I would state it outright: Error messages are *not* the correct way to > teach them. > > Does anyone remember the long-established principle that "Error prevention is > better than error recovery"? (Chauncey, you can put your hand down; I know > you do. :-) > > Elizabeth > > -- > Elizabeth Buie > Luminanze Consulting, LLC > www.luminanze.com > ________________________________________________________________ > 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 > ________________________________________________________________ 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
