The hottest User Interface Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Accessibility Has Failed: Try Generative UI = Individualized UX

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 89 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Accessibility AI User Interface UX Design
  1. Traditional accessibility methods have not significantly improved computer usability for disabled users, prompting the need for a new approach like Generative UI for tailored user experiences.
  2. Accessibility has faced challenges due to high costs and ultimately creating a subpar user experience, especially for blind users with auditory interfaces.
  3. Supporting older and low-literacy users has been more successful with current methods, highlighting the importance of considering their needs alongside generative UI for wider user inclusivity.

chainEDGE 3.0 Is Live

Onchain Wizard's Cauldron • 137 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Data Analysis Cryptocurrency Web Development User Interface Trading
  1. The chainEDGE 3.0 update brings significant improvements for users, including enhanced UI and filtering options.
  2. The new version features tools like auto-filtering of low liquidity tokens and detailed insights into smart money swaps.
  3. chainEDGE 3.0 offers optimized token and wallet pages, along with a Portfolio God dashboard for sorting and filtering smart money holdings.

How I Developed the 10 Usability Heuristics

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 75 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🕹 Technology UX Research Usability User Interface Design
  1. Jakob Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics were developed through factor analysis to explain a database of usability problems, with the final list chosen for its explanatory power.
  2. The initial heuristics in 1989 were based on opinion and teaching needs, while the refined 1994 list was derived through systematic research and factor analysis.
  3. The 10 heuristics have remained relevant for 30 years due to their grounding in fundamental mismatches between humans and machines, and their broad, general applicability across different user interfaces.

2023 annual review of "A Good Interface"!

A Good Interface • 39 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🪑 Design User Interface Video Games Newsletter Game design
  1. The writer quit their job, sold belongings, and traveled to create a game and explore, turning this journey into newsletter content.
  2. In 2023, the writer focused on sharing insights on UI/UX design for video games, posting consistently on Substack.
  3. For 2024, the writer plans to continue sharing design insights and personal project updates while aiming for reader interaction and feedback.
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The Promise of The Browser (Company)

alohomora • 176 implied HN points • 13 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Browsers Brand Marketing User Interface Product Strategy
  1. The Browser Company focuses on creating a user-friendly browser experience for all types of users, not just technical individuals.
  2. The Browser Company aims to revolutionize browsing by creating an 'internet computer' experience that provides seamless access to online content across devices.
  3. The Browser Company is strategically positioning itself to challenge browser market incumbents by leveraging branding, network economies, and switching costs.

#2 - How to make a good text field

A Good Interface • 79 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Design User Interface Video Games Accessibility
  1. A good text field is displayed at the right time - only show it when needed, use alternatives like toggle switches or choice lists when possible.
  2. A good text field has clear label - make labels short, precise, and avoid overusing technical language.
  3. A good text field gives visual feedback - ensure visual cues like hover, active, focus states are properly incorporated to guide users.

Review: Freewrite Alpha

Freddie deBoer • 2 HN points • 07 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Gadgets User Interface
  1. The Freewrite Alpha is a writing-only device with a focus on simplicity, typing experience, and lack of distractions. It caters to those who struggle with digital distractions.
  2. The build quality of the Alpha is great, with premium materials and sturdy construction. Its lightweight and portability make it easy to carry around.
  3. The device's unreasonably long battery life, instant power button function, and reliable WiFi syncing are standout features. However, the small screen size and some odd UI choices might be drawbacks for potential users.

"Single panes of glass" are horrible

Counting Stuff • 21 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Data Analysis User Interface Project management
  1. Single panes of glass in technology often promise magic but fail to deliver in a meaningful way
  2. The concept of 'single panes of glass' in tech is fundamentally flawed because it doesn't mirror the efficiency and specialization seen in physical interfaces like those in transportation
  3. Project requests for 'single panes of glass' tend to lead to complex, unsustainable solutions that are difficult to manage and maintain over time

How to design better destructive action modals

UX Psychology • 79 implied HN points • 01 Nov 21
🪑 Design UI/UX User Interface
  1. Error prevention is crucial in user interface design to enhance usability and prevent user mistakes.
  2. Using confirmation dialogs before destructive actions can help users understand consequences and avoid errors.
  3. Improving destructive action modals involves clear microcopy, visual cues for destructive buttons, and allowing users to undo actions or confirm through text input.

Making software user-extendable

How Software "Sells Itself" • 2 HN points • 18 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Software Development User Interface Debugging Serverless Computing
  1. Enterprise software often lacks user-extendability, leading to workarounds or completely custom tools.
  2. Having a user-friendly code editor can simplify adding custom functionality to software.
  3. Modern technologies like Monaco and serverless platforms make it feasible to achieve user-extendability and advanced debugging features.

Is front-end dead?

31 Seconds • 1 implied HN point • 28 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI APIs User Interface
  1. Front-end development may be replaced by AI models in the future.
  2. LLMs could potentially take over front-end interfaces and simplify interaction.
  3. Companies might need to adapt by presenting APIs to users' AI agents.

GPT, Web Interfaces and The Horse Manure Crisis

Tomasz’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Web Development User Interface Innovation Technology impact
  1. Extrapolating issues solely based on current trends can be risky, as technological advancements can disrupt those predictions.
  2. GPT technology has the potential to revolutionize web interfaces, simplifying designs and making interactions more user-friendly.
  3. Just like the internal combustion engine addressed the horse manure issue, GPT may render current clunky web interfaces obsolete, paving the way for more intuitive online experiences.

Understanding contrast ratio and accessibility

UX Psychology • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 22
🕹 Technology Accessibility Design User Interface
  1. Contrast ratio in design refers to how bright or dark colors appear on interfaces, impacting user perception and accessibility.
  2. Color blindness can affect how individuals perceive contrast, emphasizing the importance of designs that accommodate diverse visual needs.
  3. Adhering to WCAG guidelines for contrast ratios is crucial in ensuring accessibility for visually impaired users, but context and user-specific preferences should also be considered in design decisions.

Must Learn KQL Part 6: Interface Intimacy

Rod’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🕹 Technology Data Analysis User Interface Query Language Visualization
  1. Understanding the User Interface (UI) is crucial when starting with Kusto Query Language (KQL) as it provides a visual way to interact with the data.
  2. Filtering, sorting, grouping, selecting columns, and setting time ranges are important functions within the UI for manipulating and viewing data effectively.
  3. The UI also offers features like saving queries, sharing queries, formatting queries, exporting query results, creating alert rules, pinning visualizations, and utilizing keyboard shortcuts for efficient query development.

Apple's Big Experiment

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🕹 Technology AI Virtual reality Augmented reality Artificial Intelligence User Interface
  1. Apple's new Vision Pro device is heavily powered by AI, despite Apple not explicitly mentioning AI in its marketing. The device uses AI for interactions, user interface, latency reduction, and even predicting user behavior.
  2. Apple's approach with the Vision Pro is a 'best foot forward' experiment, focusing on creating a functional and user-friendly spatial computer. The success or failure of this experiment could impact the future of AR and VR technology development.
  3. The Vision Pro's high price tag of $3,499 positions it as a premium product, akin to Apple's previous pricey but successful launches like the original iPhone. The device's success may determine the future of AR and VR investments in the tech industry.