keying error notification

[Roedy Green]

I have been thinking about the best way to notify the user of errors
while keying.

1. verbal, the user can fix the error while the voice continues. Java
does not have a decent sound API that works outside Applets, is
simple, and does not overlap. This is what I did in VerCheck. see
http://mindprod.com/applet/vercheck.html

2. pop up a dialog box. Interrupts work flow. User must dismiss it
first to get on with fixing a trivial error.

3. short sound.

4. non-modal dialog box. Lets user continue working. Disappears by
itself if not dismissed after a second or so.

5. reserved error box on the screen. The problem here is it is out of
the line of sight.

6. icon for record that indicates if it ready for prime time. You
hover over it to get a tooltip for why not.

What do you think the ideal way to handle error notification is?

 

[derek]

I have been thinking about the best way to notify the user of errors
while keying.
1. verbal, the user can fix the error while the voice continues. Java
does not have a decent sound API that works outside Applets, is
simple, and does not overlap. This is what I did in VerCheck. see
http://mindprod.com/applet/vercheck.html
2. pop up a dialog box. Interrupts work flow. User must dismiss it
first to get on with fixing a trivial error.
3. short sound.
4. non-modal dialog box. Lets user continue working. Disappears by
itself if not dismissed after a second or so.
5. reserved error box on the screen. The problem here is it is out of
the line of sight.
6. icon for record that indicates if it ready for prime time. You
hover over it to get a tooltip for why not.
What do you think the ideal way to handle error notification is?

I prefer to have it highlighted in some way. Maybe a different font or color for the text.
I must be able to turn off the option though.

..
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THIS IS MY SIGNATURE. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

 

[Knute Johnson]

I have been thinking about the best way to notify the user of errors
while keying.

1. verbal, the user can fix the error while the voice continues. Java
does not have a decent sound API that works outside Applets, is
simple, and does not overlap. This is what I did in VerCheck. see
http://mindprod.com/applet/vercheck.html

JavaSound works just fine. In fact it was made much simpler in 1.5.

2. pop up a dialog box. Interrupts work flow. User must dismiss it
first to get on with fixing a trivial error.

3. short sound.

4. non-modal dialog box. Lets user continue working. Disappears by
itself if not dismissed after a second or so.

5. reserved error box on the screen. The problem here is it is out of
the line of sight.

6. icon for record that indicates if it ready for prime time. You
hover over it to get a tooltip for why not.

What do you think the ideal way to handle error notification is?

3 is my preference.

 

[Jacek Wojciechowski]

5. reserved error box on the screen. The problem here is it is out of
the line of sight.

Have you thought about an error line at the bottom of the screen, that turns
red when an error appears and displays error message for a short time? It
can be accompanied with sound.

That's the way SAP notifies its users about an error. And it seems pretty
comfortable.