Microinteractions: Design and Interaction

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Questions and Answers

What event led the author to appreciate the importance of microinteractions?

A discussion group on the Internet

A problem with Apple's photo cataloging and editing application (correct)

A symphony concert

A conference in Brazil

What was the author's initial reaction to the error message from Aperture?

Confusion

Annoyance and concern (correct)

Indifference

Relief

Why did the author have to search beyond Apple's support website?

The solution was too complex to find

The author's backup was corrupted

The solution was not provided by Apple (correct)

The author's synchronization program was too efficient

What is the main takeaway from the author's experience with Aperture?

Getting the details right is crucial for user experience Signup and view all the answers

Where did the author finally find the solution to the Aperture problem?

A discussion group on the Internet Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the author following the instructions from Apple?

The author was able to restore their photos Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of lacking attention to details in product design?

Frustration, irritation and eventual dislike of the product Signup and view all the answers

Who is the person mentioned in the foreword as having an interest in microinteractions?

Dan Saffer Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of the chapter that begins with the story of the ringing cellphone at a symphony concert?

Chapter 1 Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step to great microinteraction design?

Identification of situation properly Signup and view all the answers

What is essential to develop in users to create great microinteraction design?

Observational skills Signup and view all the answers

Why should error messages and dialog boxes be considered in microinteraction design?

They present information and imply the next step to be performed Signup and view all the answers

What is required to develop great microinteraction design?

Understanding of the context of interactions and the people who use the product Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of microinteraction design?

To do things right for the user Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of continual observation in microinteraction design?

Discovery of new microinteraction opportunities Signup and view all the answers

What can hinder the creation of great microinteraction design?

Being blocked by company organizational structures Signup and view all the answers

What is required to incorporate a significant amount of example code from this book into a product's documentation?

Permission only Signup and view all the answers

What is an attribution typically composed of?

Title, author, publisher, and ISBN Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of Safari Books Online for its subscribers?

Research and problem-solving Signup and view all the answers

Who should be contacted for comments and questions concerning this book?

The publisher Signup and view all the answers

What type of content is available on Safari Books Online?

Books, training videos, and prepublication manuscripts Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Safari Books Online?

A digital library for technology and business professionals Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended course of action if a use of code examples falls outside fair use or the permission given?

Contact <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the email address to contact for permission to use code examples?

<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> Signup and view all the answers

What happens when microinteractions are poor in a product?

The main features are surrounded by pain and frustration Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between operating systems from a user's perspective?

The microinteractions it provides Signup and view all the answers

Why do some features not require well-designed microinteractions?

Because they are highly protected by intellectual property laws Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a product where microinteractions didn't matter initially?

The first generation of the Roomba Signup and view all the answers

Why are microinteractions more important in competitive markets?

Because they increase adoption and brand loyalty Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'feel' in look-and-feel according to the text?

The microinteractions Signup and view all the answers

Why did Google+ fall behind Facebook?

Because its microinteractions were gimmicky Signup and view all the answers

What is the design of a product only as good as?

Its smallest part Signup and view all the answers

Why are microinteractions well-suited for a multi-platform existence?

Because their small size allows for consistency across different platforms Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of testing microinteractions?

Testing the flow and structure Signup and view all the answers

What type of prototype is required to effectively test microinteractions?

High-fidelity prototype Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between testing microinteractions and testing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?

The assumption about the overall concept Signup and view all the answers

Why are small devices, such as mobile phones, well-suited for microinteractions?

Because they have small screens Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of measuring and learning from microinteractions?

To iterate and refine the design Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a platform that is custom-made for microinteractions?

Appliance Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of refining microinteractions?

Measure > Learn > Iterate Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Importance of Microinteractions

Microinteractions are small details in a product that can greatly impact the user's experience
A good microinteraction can create a smooth feeling of accomplishment, while a poor one can lead to frustration and irritation
Attention to detail is essential to create great microinteractions, which requires understanding the people who use the product and the context of their interactions

Designing Microinteractions

The first step to great microinteraction is to identify the situation properly, which requires great observational skills
This involves watching people interact, identifying pain points, and determining which things make sense to bring together
The next step is to implement the microinteraction, which requires understanding the people who use the product and the context of their interactions

Microinteractions vs. Features

Microinteractions are not features, but they can make or break the user's experience of a product
Even with feature parity, microinteractions can increase adoption and brand loyalty in competitive markets
Microinteractions are the "feel" in look-and-feel and can tie together features across different platforms

Measuring Microinteractions

To measure microinteractions, build the interaction to test it, measure the design with quantitative and qualitative methods, and learn from an analysis of those findings
Iterate on the design based on the findings to refine the microinteraction
High-fidelity prototypes are often necessary to test microinteractions effectively

Examples of Microinteractions

A ringing cellphone at a symphony concert can be a microinteraction that forms the opening pages of a chapter
Aperture's error message that provides no remedy is a poor microinteraction that can lead to frustration
Chrome's indication in the scrollbar where instances of a searched word appear is a good microinteraction

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Description

This quiz is about microinteractions, a concept in design and interaction that was popularized by Dan Saffer. It covers the importance of microinteractions in user experience.