[Usability] [comp.human-factors] Don't call them error messages

[Calum Benson <Calum Benson Sun COM>]

A novel idea from Laura Arlov (author of the really quite
good "GUI Design for Dummies") on c.h-f... 

On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 15:02:26 +0100, Laura Arlov
wrote:

> Sometimes what we call things
> makes a difference in how we perceive
> them...or even in how we act.
> 
> Lately I've been asking project members
> in the various projects where I consult
> to drop the term "error message" and
> replace it with "solution message."
> 
> This simple change in naming
> seems to have a beneficial effect
> on the usability of the resulting messages....
> 
> 
> Laura Arlov
> WordFixers
> Oslo, Norway

-- 
CALUM BENSON, Usability Engineer       Sun Microsystems Ireland
mailto:calum benson sun com            GNOME Desktop Group
http://ie.sun.com                      +353 1 819 9771

Any opinions are personal and not necessarily those of Sun Microsystems