The hottest User Experience Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

AI Bring Back Analog Interfaces

Erik Explores • 0 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. AI technology could bring back physical analog interfaces with buttons, dials, and sliders, allowing for innovative design concepts.
  2. Luxury brands use simple interfaces but signal sophistication through material quality and intricate design, challenging the assumption that simplicity equals low quality.
  3. Tactile feedback from physical interfaces like buttons and dials can be more user-friendly and efficient in tasks like driving and cooking compared to touch-based interfaces, due to the principle of progressive disclosure.

Sky-High Risks: The Hidden Dangers of Airplane WiFi

IntelEdge360 with Bidemi Ologunde • 0 implied HN points • 25 Mar 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Airplane WiFi can pose significant cybersecurity risks, highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies to protect operations, data, and passenger privacy.
  2. Airplane WiFi operates through air-to-ground (ATG) and satellite connectivity, with various speeds and costs associated with each system.
  3. Implementing in-flight WiFi presents challenges such as costs, regulatory hurdles, and user experience variations, but advancements are working towards better connectivity and affordability.

How to get more user interviews and use them well

Recontact • 0 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
💼 Business User Experience
  1. Have a sincere mindset when connecting with people for user interviews; understand their time is valuable.
  2. Personalize your outreach messages for better responses; even a simple name customization can make a difference.
  3. Building a personal connection with interviewees can lead to more valuable insights and willingness to help in the future.

Foursquare is back on my homescreen, not for long but I wish…

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Foursquare provides great reviews and tips with an authentic tone, useful for checking recommendations and discovering new places on the go.
  2. Even though Foursquare is limited to food, nightlife, and shopping, it works effectively, but lacks consistent and lasting relevance.
  3. To improve, Foursquare could benefit from having local experts for daily updates, community engagement similar to Product Hunt, and coverage of culture and events in addition to its current categories.

Messaging, What’s the Matter ?

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Messaging has evolved to be faster, more discreet, and versatile than traditional forms of communication.
  2. Messaging offers comfort by allowing people to think before responding and can be used asynchronously or instantaneously.
  3. Using messaging as a core feature should aim to enhance user experience by providing faster access to information, unique experiences, and better interactions.
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Food diary app - that is easy use

Ingig • 0 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Many food diary apps are too complicated, with too many buttons and options that make them hard to use.
  2. A new app called FoodDiaryApp allows users to input food information in a simple, natural language format like 'ate chicken with broccoli and cauliflower, cream sauce', making it easy to use.
  3. FoodDiaryApp has all the standard features of a food diary app, but stands out for its simplicity, beauty, and ability to use natural language for data entry.

Internet Banking: cấm không có nghĩa là an toàn, an toàn không có nghĩa là khách hàng sẽ muốn xài

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 24 Jul 17
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Ensuring security in internet banking is crucial, but it must be balanced with user experience. Just because it's secure doesn't mean customers will find it convenient to use.
  2. The balance between security and user convenience is key in designing financial products. Security measures should not overly burden customers or hinder their experience.
  3. System security should rely on technology rather than strict procedures. Protecting customers with technology ensures a smoother user experience compared to relying solely on restrictive rules.

Giao diện mới của www.tuoitre.com.vn

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jul 07
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. The new design of tuoitre.com.vn's website features a horizontal navigation bar, which is a refreshing change that separates it from other news websites in Vietnam.
  2. The tab design of the navigation bar is simple, easy to understand, and efficient for users, but there are minor design flaws that could be improved, like highlighting the selected tab more visibly.
  3. One major drawback of the new design is the unnecessary inclusion of a video clip on the homepage, which can be intrusive, outdated, and significantly increases the page load time.

designing the obvious

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jul 07
🪑 Design User Experience
  1. Designing the Obvious emphasizes creating websites that are intuitive and easy to use, guiding designers to build clear and straightforward interfaces.
  2. The core message is about simplifying products effectively, whether it is a website, a bicycle, or a TV, following Einstein's notion of simplicity.
  3. Avoid making users think unnecessarily by providing clear instructions and uniformity in design elements to enhance usability.

How we built an app to fix our own meeting fatigue

realkinetic • 0 implied HN points • 05 Oct 20
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. The app Witful was created to reduce cognitive load for people with lots of meetings, helping them be focused and prepared.
  2. The idea for Witful arose from the struggles of managing large teams and multiple client relationships, showing the importance of organized note-taking.
  3. Continual iteration and user feedback helped the Witful team realize the significance of smart organization, user experience, and search functionality over flashy features.

Your bug reports suck

Tribal Knowledge • 0 implied HN points • 25 Apr 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Bug reports benefit from including videos and pictures to clearly show the problem.
  2. The severity and impact of a bug determine its priority level for fixing, which varies among companies.
  3. Improving bug reports can involve using videos, screenshots, and tools like jam.dev to provide detailed information for developers.

The small things matter

Tribal Knowledge • 0 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Handling small details well is a crucial indicator of success in software development.
  2. Fixing small bugs promptly is important, as they can impact power users and lead to customer frustration.
  3. Focusing on perfecting small things can ultimately lead to success and product market fit in software development.

You want bugs in your app

Tribal Knowledge • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Bugs in your app should be seen as valuable feedback from users, not just negative issues to fix.
  2. Having a few bugs can indicate that people are actively using your application and engaging with its features.
  3. Non-bug issues like FAD bugs and lack of documentation also provide important insights that can help improve your app and user experience.

You are building a communication tool

Tribal Knowledge • 0 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Humans are not great at communication, so we build tools to help us communicate better across all industries.
  2. Software development is heavily focused on improving communication, making it easier, faster, and clearer.
  3. When evaluating new features in software, always consider if it will enhance communication for users, as communication is key in building successful tools.

Fight for the Users

Tribal Knowledge • 0 implied HN points • 12 May 22
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. When developing a tool, it's crucial to balance usability and features for user adoption and retention.
  2. Self-service tools can lead to organic growth and better user understanding, ultimately benefitting the long-term success of the product.
  3. Engineers play a significant role in advocating for usability improvements in tools, which can enhance user experience and overall product success.

Scrollbar with a bit of CSS easily

Perspectiv | LAB • 0 implied HN points • 20 Jul 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. You can easily customize scrollbars using CSS with pseudo-elements. This lets you change the size and color to match your site's design.
  2. Using different pseudo-elements, you can style the scrollbar, track, and thumb for a more appealing look. Each part can have its own styles and hover effects.
  3. These custom scrollbar styles mainly work in WebKit browsers like Safari, so you might need other methods for broader browser support.

[Help Page] Joining the subscriber chat

Decoding Coding • 0 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. There's a special chat space just for subscribers, kind of like a group chat. You can share thoughts and updates with others.
  2. To join the chat, you need to download the Substack app which works on both iOS and Android. Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can stay updated.
  3. Once you have the app, just click on the chat icon to get started. Say hi and join the conversation!

Quality Engineering Basics: Exploratory Testing

QUALITY BOSS • 0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Exploratory testing is a flexible approach that doesn't need detailed preparation. It lets testers use their skills and creativity to find bugs efficiently.
  2. Using test charters can help focus exploratory testing. You can define what to explore, how to explore it, and what you want to learn.
  3. To improve your testing, think about worst-case scenarios for your product. Coming up with nightmare headlines can help guide your exploratory testing efforts.

Cheese Sticking, AI Knows 🍕🤖❓

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 25 May 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. A recent response from Google AI about cheese sticking to pizza caused a lot of debate online. It made people question how well AI understands everyday problems.
  2. This isn't the first time AI has given strange advice. In earlier tests, it suggested weird things like drinking light-colored urine for kidney stones.
  3. These odd suggestions highlight the gaps in AI knowledge and make us think about how we rely on technology for information.

Devin’s in the Details 🤖

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Devin is the first AI software engineer created by Cognition Lab, and it has stirred up a lot of different feelings online.
  2. Many coders are worried about what this could mean for their jobs, while others are excited about the technology.
  3. The focus on user experience and the surrounding infrastructure makes Devin stand out, not just the AI itself.

How to Improve Android App Performance

Better Engineers • 0 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Identify and monitor app performance issues, like slow rendering and frozen frames, to enhance user experience. It's important to keep the app responsive to avoid losing users.
  2. Use tools like Firebase Performance Monitoring to track performance data and identify problems, such as long UI thread operations that can cause jank.
  3. Implement strategies to improve performance, like using View Stubs for loading UI components on demand and avoiding long tasks on the main thread, which can make the app freeze.

Creating Custom Notifications in Android: A Step-by-Step Guide

Better Engineers • 0 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Creating a notification channel is the first step to customize notifications in your Android app. This helps users control how they receive notifications.
  2. Designing a custom layout for the notification is crucial. It allows you to display information in a unique way, making it more engaging for users.
  3. Using NotificationCompat.Builder helps you build and trigger the notification effectively. You can also add interactive elements to enhance the user experience.

Overlapping ItemDecorator

Better Engineers • 0 implied HN points • 17 Mar 20
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. You can create an overlapping effect in a RecyclerView by using a custom ItemDecoration.
  2. The code provided sets offsets for the RecyclerView items to allow one item to slightly overlap another.
  3. This technique can enhance the visual presentation of your UI, making it look more dynamic.

Identity, authentication, and authorisation from the ground up

Tranquil Thoughts • 0 implied HN points • 28 Aug 23
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Authentication methods can be divided into three categories: knowledge-based (like passwords), ownership-based (like email or phone verification), and identity-based (like biometric data). Each has its pros and cons.
  2. Passwords are often a weak way to authenticate because people forget them or use easily guessable ones. This can lead to security risks and poor user experience.
  3. New techniques like WebAuthn allow users to log in without passwords, using secure methods like biometrics or hardware keys. This reduces the chances of phishing and makes the process smoother.

Disambiguation: Using Dynamic Context In Crafting Effective RAG Question Suggestions

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 0 implied HN points • 03 Apr 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Using dynamic context helps to create better question suggestions in conversations. It makes it easier for users to find answers without struggling to ask the right questions.
  2. When users have ambiguous input, the system can offer a few options to choose from. This helps clarify what the user really wants without adding extra pressure.
  3. The goal is to reduce confusion and improve the overall experience. By guiding users in asking questions, the system can learn more about their needs and preferences.

Ambient Orchestration, Ubiquitous User Interfaces & The Humane AIPin

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 0 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Ubiquitous user interfaces are everywhere and can be used in many ways, like through speech or touch. They adapt to the user's situation, making technology easier to interact with.
  2. Ambient orchestration makes technology blend seamlessly into our lives, adjusting to how we move and behave. This helps create shortcuts for our daily routines and makes tasks easier to manage.
  3. The AIPin device aims to be a helpful addition to our tech ecosystem, offering features like notifications without needing to look at a phone. It focuses on low-cognitive load interactions, especially useful while driving.

Prompt Editing Based On User Feedback

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 0 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Understanding user intent is crucial for Large Language Models (LLMs) to provide better responses. It helps in knowing what users really want.
  2. Using feedback from users can help improve the performance of LLMs in real-time. This means users can guide the model to understand their needs better.
  3. Adding context and clarity to prompts can significantly enhance how LLMs respond. By helping the model understand the situation better, we get more accurate answers.

Future OpenAI Functionality Will Supersede Many Current LLM Applications

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 0 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. OpenAI's features are expanding rapidly, making it likely that many current applications will become obsolete. Just like when smartphones added flashlight functions, many apps may no longer be needed.
  2. Startups need to really focus on giving users a great experience and unique features to stand out. It's important to build a special software layer that adds real value to their products.
  3. With all the changes happening in LLM technology, companies must adapt quickly. They need to stay flexible and innovative to keep up with what OpenAI and others are doing.

The Anatomy Of Large Language Model (LLM) Powered Conversational Applications

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. To make applications using large language models (LLMs) successful, businesses need to ensure they add real value through their API calls.
  2. The development of a good framework is important for collaboration between designers and developers, helping to turn conversation designs smoothly into functional applications.
  3. User experience is key; users just want great experiences without worrying about the technology behind it.

The Foundation Large Language Model (LLM) & Tooling Landscape

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. There are many new applications for Generative AI, and they can be grouped into different categories. This shows how quickly this technology is growing.
  2. For AI tools to succeed, they need to have unique features and provide a great user experience. Otherwise, they might not survive in the crowded market.
  3. A lot of different companies are entering the AI space, but only those that can keep customers and offer something special will thrive.

Stop using UUIDs: The Modern ID Spec

Getting Traction • 0 implied HN points • 12 May 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. UUIDs are not always the best choice for identifiers because they're long and hard to read. A new approach suggests using shorter, more human-friendly IDs that are easier to copy and work with.
  2. The modern ID format uses a prefix for the table and a suffix for uniqueness, allowing for better organization and user experience. This means URLs can be cleaner and easier to understand.
  3. Different tables can have different suffix lengths based on their volume and sensitivity, making it flexible. It also makes it easier to manage potential ID conflicts as your database grows.

What I learned about products from making tacos

Sunday Letters • 0 implied HN points • 25 Aug 24
💼 Business User Experience
  1. People appreciate good design, even in simple products like tacos. Small changes can make a big difference in user experience.
  2. Users want products that help them complete tasks easily, without unnecessary complications. If it's difficult to use, they'll likely abandon it.
  3. It's important to test your product with real users who aren't familiar with it. Their feedback can reveal issues you might miss when you only think about what you've built.

Are we crazy? From digital adoption to user assistance

CommandBlogue • 0 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Pop-ups are annoying and most users have developed 'pop-up fatigue', which makes them ignore these interruptions. It's frustrating when software we pay for still uses this old tactic.
  2. The concept of a 'user assistant' would replace annoying pop-ups. It would help users based on their needs and intentions, making software easier and more pleasant to use.
  3. As users expect better experiences, companies need to change how they design software. Innovations are needed to improve interactions between users and technology.

How link detection engages users more

CommandBlogue • 0 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Links are common in today's digital world, often replacing traditional file sharing. Using links helps keep information accessible but can pull users away from your app.
  2. Enhancing user experience is important, so product builders should aim to integrate link previews or embed features. This allows users to interact with linked content without leaving the main app.
  3. Users prefer to stay in one app for convenience. The less they have to jump between different applications, the smoother their experience will be.

Make users feel safe with a 2-word widget

CommandBlogue • 0 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Users need to feel their work is safe, especially after bad experiences with crashes or lost documents. It's important to provide reassurance in software applications.
  2. Showing the last time work was saved can help users feel more secure about their progress. They can easily check that their recent changes are saved.
  3. Auto-saving features are really helpful, but they can confuse users. Clear notifications about saving can make a big difference in user trust and satisfaction.

The simple button that makes data easier to use

CommandBlogue • 0 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Adding a reset button in dashboards helps users easily undo multiple customizations with one click. It saves time and makes exploring data more efficient.
  2. This feature allows users to quickly return to the default view, which is helpful when working with multiple users in an app.
  3. Just like pressing delete to start over, users prefer easy solutions that let them change their paths without wasting time.

Why even B2B products need more emoji (even if you target boomers)

CommandBlogue • 0 implied HN points • 28 May 24
💼 Business User Experience
  1. Using emoji reactions in communication apps can help make conversations shorter and clearer. They let people respond without needing to write a long message.
  2. Emoji reactions create a sense of closure in conversations. When you react, it shows you acknowledge the message without expecting more replies.
  3. Almost every app now has emoji reactions because they improve communication. They help maintain good working relationships without overwhelming users.

Get rid of user confusion with better empty states

CommandBlogue • 0 implied HN points • 10 Apr 24
🕹 Technology User Experience
  1. Empty states in apps can confuse users when there's no data to show. It's important to fill that space with meaningful actions.
  2. Instead of just saying 'no events found,' apps can encourage users to create new content, making the experience more engaging.
  3. Sometimes users want to see empty spaces as they indicate they've reached their goals, like finishing a to-do list. Celebrating that can enhance satisfaction.