Absolutely, Chaunceh. My point is not that error messages are not necessary, but that they are not sufficient.
Elizabeth Chauncey Wilson wrote: >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 >> -- Elizabeth Buie Luminanze Consulting, LLC tel +1.301.943.4168 (US) tel +39.347.394.7022 (Italia) fax +1.301.949.9694 (US only) 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
