Obviously: Enable Float Alignment

Enable Float Alignment

By goldman on Tuesday, February 20, 2007

So, you've got a feature idea for your personal content product that's going to make everything better for everyone. As a for instance, let's say it automatically converts quotes (") to smart quotes (“). You build, test and release it and eagerly await to receive praise from your users.

The first comment you see is from someone who says "I hate these ugly quote marks! Why did you screw with my text! I quit!"

So now you have a new feature to code called the "Disable Smart Quotes (Yes/No)" setting.

How much leeway do you have to change behavior without introducing an opt-out setting? How do you weigh your responsibility to unhappy users against a desire to design for the better? And can you avoid a nightmarish collection of obscure settings that don't mean anything to 90% of your user base?

It's a really tough call and I've frequently advocated building the opt-out setting. As an example, we built a shiny new rich-text editor in Blogger that did all sorts of fancy things. Unfortunately, it also did some things to the post output that folks found unexpected. In fact it completely broke a number of uses of Blogger where people were taking the raw post content and plugging it into another site.

After reading a number of agonizing anti-testimonials, I felt we had to introduce a way to suppress the undesired output. Sadly, we couldn't even come up with a name that made sense for this "feature" so this is what we ended up with:

Not very awesome. But it was a better option that "Did our feature break your stuff?"

Perhaps as a result of Enable Float Alignment, I now feel designers should be a little more firm is creating just the experience they feel is best overall. This makes especially good sense when your product is young and the unanticipated uses and edge cases are more limited in number and in type.

This isn't an excuse to go around making dumb changes in behavior. But I've found that folks will adapt and that change sometimes seems more disruptive when initially introduced.

In the worst case scenario, you end up losing users if you don't include an opt-out. But introducing those (yes/no) settings, while hopefully cheap in effort, also carry a cost over time. In the case of EFA, we had to build it a 2nd time when we created the new version of Blogger. You've also introduced the possibility of interaction bugs with new features down the line. More importantly, every time a user goes into your settings, they need to parse an increasing number of niche options thereby distracting them from whatever task they wanted to achieve.

I feel the better option is to thoroughly consider how your change in behavior is going to affect the different types of users you support. And introduce opt-out settings sparingly, if at all.

permalink

32 Comments:

Guillermo Ravagni: I congratulate you by your blog.

I am from Avellaneda - Santa Fe - Argentina.

www.diarioperonista.blogspot.com

3/10/2007 1:27 PM

txdave: Internet readers tend to return to blogs with a focused theme.

Photos are great when they're something universally appreciated, not family except sometimes kids photos.

Some variety of font/format is always better to make a blog livlier, see wht I mean:

assertivenesssucceeds.blogspot.com

browniesforbreakfast.blogspot.com

good luck

dave

3/13/2007 1:31 PM

Dome & Edo: very nice blog

3/24/2007 11:08 AM

Mi: People are resistant to change, and for the fact that we're talking in technology terms, then we always expect a point where we can get back to where we were, and undo.

9/03/2008 12:58 PM

Justin: Ah, the memories. Thanks for that.

10/21/2008 11:22 PM

11/06/2008 6:04 PM

sexy: 情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣,情趣,情趣,情趣,按摩棒,G點,跳蛋,跳蛋,充氣娃娃,角色扮演,SM,潤滑液,威而柔,精油,自慰套,自慰,免費A片,AV女優,美女視訊,情色交友,免費AV,色情網站,辣妹視訊,美女交友,色情影片,成人影片,成人網站,A片,H漫,18成人,成人圖片,成人漫畫,情色網,日本A片,免費A片下載,性愛,A片,色情,成人,做愛,色情A片,A片下載,色情遊戲,色情影片,色情聊天室,免費成人影片,免費視訊,免費視訊聊天,免費視訊聊天室,一葉情貼圖片區,情色,情色視訊,情色電影,視訊交友,視訊聊天,視訊聊天室,情境坊歡愉用品,情趣用品,情人節禮物,情惑用品性易購

11/09/2008 12:10 AM

seego: 福岡県墓石店
クリック365
中国株で貧乏になる
FX スプレッド比較
館山土地
縮毛矯正名古屋
白内障治療
脳神経外科
レーシック手術
SNS 設置代行
子供の病気
キャッシング申込
広島県墓石店
気管支喘息
輸入生活雑貨
クレジットカード申込
通信講座のユーキャン
翻訳会社名古屋
健康相談ニュース
ゴールドカード無料

11/19/2008 7:18 AM

warhammer gold: "The FDA can't be left to drift," said Hubbard, the former official. "There's a lack of leadership when a caretaker is in charge, and the FDA can't afford that." warhammer gold warhammer gold buy warhammer gold buy warhammer gold wow gold wow gold ffxi gil"This would be a totally new regulatory responsibility that the FDA doesn't have expertise in," said Mark B. McClellan, who led the agency in President George W. Bush's first term. buy ffxi gil wow power leveling wow powerleveling wow leveling wow power leveling warhammer mark of warhammer quest warhammer 40k chaos cheap warhammer warhammer warhammer online game warhammer 40k terrain warhammer mark of"As people across the world unite for the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day on 1st December, some of the biggest names in international cricket have been playing their part in the ongoing fight against the global epidemic.Final Fantasy XI gil cheap ffxi gil ffxi gil dofus kamas kamas dofus dofus kamas kamas dofusWhile the agency has received some additional money and personnel to help implement new drug safety powers, many say it is overdue for a doubling of its budget. lineage 2 adena everquest2 platinum tibia money vanguard gold kal geonMany hope the new administration will quickly name a new FDA commissioner -- a post that has frequently been left in the hands of acting commissioners for long periods. An acting commissioner ran the agency for more than half of the past eight years. wow powerleveling wow leveling ArchLord gold buy ArchLord gold City of Heroes influence coh influence City of Villains infamy COV infamy warhammer quest warhammer 40k chaos cheap warhammer warhammer warhammer online game warhammer 40k terrainThe turmoil comes as the FDA is facing a host of new demands, including the next wave of drugs and other products resulting from breakthroughs in genetics, nanotechnology and bioengineered foods, among others. And Congress may give the FDA the power to regulate tobacco for the first time.

12/03/2008 11:17 PM

sexy: 情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣,情趣,情趣,情趣,情趣,情趣,情趣,情趣,按摩棒,跳蛋,充氣娃娃,情境坊歡愉用品,情趣用品,情人節禮物,情惑用品性易購,A片,視訊聊天室,視訊,視訊聊天,視訊交友網,免費視訊聊天,聊天室,UT聊天室,免費視訊,視訊交友,免費視訊聊天室

免費A片,AV女優,美女視訊,情色交友,免費AV,色情網站,辣妹視訊,美女交友,色情影片,成人影片,成人網站,A片,H漫,18成人,成人圖片,成人漫畫,情色網,日本A片,免費A片下載,性愛

A片,色情,成人,做愛,情色文學,A片下載,色情遊戲,色情影片,色情聊天室,情色電影,免費視訊,免費視訊聊天,免費視訊聊天室,一葉情貼圖片區,情色,情色視訊,免費成人影片,視訊交友,視訊聊天,視訊聊天室,言情小說,愛情小說,AIO,AV片,A漫,av dvd,聊天室,自拍,情色論壇,視訊美女,AV成人網,色情A片,SEX,成人圖片區

情趣用品,A片,免費A片,AV女優,美女視訊,情色交友,色情網站,免費AV,辣妹視訊,美女交友,色情影片,成人網站,H漫,18成人,成人圖片,成人漫畫,成人影片,情色網

情趣用品,A片,免費A片,日本A片,A片下載,線上A片,成人電影,嘟嘟成人網,成人,成人貼圖,成人交友,成人圖片,18成人,成人小說,成人圖片區,微風成人區,成人文章,成人影城,情色,情色貼圖,色情聊天室,情色視訊,情色文學,色情小說,情色小說,臺灣情色網,色情,情色電影,色情遊戲,嘟嘟情人色網,麗的色遊戲,情色論壇,色情網站,一葉情貼圖片區,做愛,性愛,美女視訊,辣妹視訊,視訊聊天室,視訊交友網,免費視訊聊天,美女交友,做愛影片

av,情趣用品,a片,成人電影,微風成人,嘟嘟成人網,成人,成人貼圖,成人交友,成人圖片,18成人,成人小說,成人圖片區,成人文章,成人影城,愛情公寓,情色,情色貼圖,色情聊天室,情色視訊,情色文學,色情小說,情色小說,色情,寄情築園小遊戲,情色電影,aio,av女優,AV,免費A片,日本a片,美女視訊,辣妹視訊,聊天室,美女交友,成人光碟

情趣用品.A片,情色,情色貼圖,色情聊天室,情色視訊,情色文學,色情小說,情色小說,色情,寄情築園小遊戲,情色電影,色情遊戲,色情網站,聊天室,ut聊天室,豆豆聊天室,美女視訊,辣妹視訊,視訊聊天室,視訊交友網,免費視訊聊天,免費A片,日本a片,a片下載,線上a片,av女優,av,成人電影,成人,成人貼圖,成人交友,成人圖片,18成人,成人小說,成人圖片區,成人文章,成人影城,成人網站,自拍,尋夢園聊天室

12/11/2008 12:54 AM

義秋: 米軍基地
やせマッチョ
筋トレ
ミニチュアダックス

12/22/2008 7:33 AM

sex: 免費視訊聊天,辣妹視訊,視訊交友網,美女視訊,視訊交友,視訊交友90739,成人聊天室,視訊聊天室,視訊聊天,視訊聊天室,情色視訊,情人視訊網,視訊美女,一葉情貼圖片區,免費視訊聊天室,免費視訊,ut聊天室,聊天室,豆豆聊天室,尋夢園聊天室,聊天室尋夢園,影音視訊聊天室

威而柔,自慰套,自慰套,SM,充氣娃娃,充氣娃娃,潤滑液,飛機杯,按摩棒,跳蛋,性感睡衣,威而柔,自慰套,自慰套,SM,充氣娃娃,充氣娃娃,潤滑液,飛機杯,按摩棒,跳蛋,性感睡衣
情惑用品性易購,情境坊歡愉用品

色情遊戲,寄情築園小遊戲,情色文學,一葉情貼圖片區,情境坊歡愉用品,情惑用品性易購,情人視訊網,辣妹視訊,情色交友,成人論壇,情色論壇,愛情公寓,情色,舊情人,情色貼圖,色情聊天室,色情小說,做愛,做愛影片,性愛
情境坊歡愉用品,情惑用品性易購,aio交友愛情館,一葉情貼圖片區,情趣用品

徵信社,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣精品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣,情趣,情趣用品

辣妹視訊,美女視訊,視訊交友網,視訊聊天室,視訊交友,視訊美女,免費視訊,免費視訊聊天

網拍設計,網頁設計

12/29/2008 9:21 AM

1/29/2009 7:22 PM

在職進修專欄: 看房子,買房子,建商自售,自售,台北新成屋,台北豪宅,新成屋,豪宅,美髮儀器,美髮,儀器,髮型,EMBA,MBA,學位,EMBA,專業認證,認證課程,博士學位,DBA,PHD,在職進修,碩士學位,推廣教育,DBA,進修課程,碩士學位,網路廣告,關鍵字廣告,關鍵字,廣告,課程介紹,學分班,文憑,牛樟芝,段木,牛樟菇,日式料理, 台北居酒屋,燒肉,結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,台北住宿,國內訂房,台北HOTEL,台北婚宴,飯店優惠,台北結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,住宿,訂房,HOTEL,飯店,造型系列,學位,牛樟芝,腦磷脂,磷脂絲胺酸,SEO,婚宴,捷運,學區,美髮,儀器,髮型,牛樟芝,腦磷脂,磷脂絲胺酸,看房子,買房子,建商自售,自售,房子,捷運,學區,台北新成屋,台北豪宅,新成屋,豪宅,學位,碩士學位,進修,在職進修, 課程,教育,學位,證照,mba,文憑,學分班,網路廣告,關鍵字廣告,關鍵字,SEO,关键词,网络广告,关键词广告,SEO,关键词,网络广告,关键词广告,SEO,台北住宿,國內訂房,台北HOTEL,台北婚宴,飯店優惠,住宿,訂房,HOTEL,飯店,婚宴,台北住宿,國內訂房,台北HOTEL,台北婚宴,飯店優惠,住宿,訂房,HOTEL,飯店,婚宴,台北住宿,國內訂房,台北HOTEL,台北婚宴,飯店優惠,住宿,訂房,HOTEL,飯店,婚宴,結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,台北結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,台北結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,台北結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,居酒屋,燒烤,美髮,儀器,髮型,美髮,儀器,髮型,美髮,儀器,髮型,美髮,儀器,髮型

2/06/2009 8:42 AM

2/09/2009 11:28 PM

義秋: 禁煙方法

2/18/2009 9:53 PM

義秋: イオナ通販
[url=http://iona.jakou.com]イオナ通販[/url]

ベビーベッドベビー用品通販
[url=http://saomi.himegimi.jp]ベビーベッドベビー用品通販[/url]

女性用コンドーム
[url=http://kondomu.o-oku.jp]女性用コンドーム[/url]

ブルブルマシーン
[url=http://shonan-beach.seesaa.net/]ブルブルマシーン[/url]

高級羽毛ふとん
[url=http://shojiki.seesaa.net/]高級羽毛ふとん[/url]

電子タバコ通販
[url=http://itsumo-kirei.seesaa.net/]電子タバコ通販[/url]

フェイシャルヨガ　通販
[url=http://f-yoga.seesaa.net/]フェイシャルヨガ　通販[/url]

SBBN011　通販
[url=http://seiko-sbbn011.seesaa.net/]SBBN011　通販[/url]

2/21/2009 7:33 AM

2/26/2009 8:44 PM

masa: fxプライム評判
マネックfx 評判
マネーパートナーズfx 評判
fx 初心者
結婚相談所失敗
クレジットカード

3/03/2009 5:36 PM

kibou: ＦＸ初心者必勝法

にきび跡色素沈着
みそダイエット
ウエストポーチ
エナメルバック
コインケース
フランスブランド
ブランドキーホルダー
確定申告医療費控除
自転車グッズ
赤ちゃんいびき

3/08/2009 7:45 PM

jennifer: 徵信社的服務項目，如婚前徵信、商業徵信、財產徵信等等，另外徵信社還可以代為討債，當有以上各項徵信服務的需求時，只要找有登記合格的徵信公司，與徵信公司簽訂徵信合約，就能保障自己的權益，所以徵信社仍是您遇到難題時的最好選擇，合法的徵信社，除了能提供您法律的諮詢外，還能協助釐清問題，尤其是棘手的外遇徵信，徵信社除了跟蹤外，還會協助您注意徵信過程的合法性。

3/13/2009 12:03 PM

xuemei: I like play online game, I alsobuy shaiya gold
andshaiya money
theshaiya goldis very cheap,
and use thecheap shaiya goldcan buy many things
I likeshaiya online gold, thanks, it is very good.

3/13/2009 9:17 PM

正享: 專業合法驅除白蟻除白蟻白蟻防治跳蚤除跳蚤跳蚤防治蛀蟲除蛀蟲蛀蟲防治白蟻除白蟻白蟻防治跳蚤除跳蚤跳蚤防治蛀蟲除蛀蟲蛀蟲防治除蟲除蟲

3/22/2009 5:17 AM

3/28/2009 3:38 PM

dggawe: 看房子,買房子,建商自售,自售,台北新成屋,台北豪宅,新成屋,豪宅,美髮儀器,美髮,儀器,髮型,EMBA,MBA,學位,EMBA,專業認證,認證課程,博士學位,DBA,PHD,在職進修,碩士學位,推廣教育,DBA,進修課程,碩士學位,網路廣告,關鍵字廣告,關鍵字,課程介紹,學分班,文憑,牛樟芝,段木,牛樟菇,日式料理, 台北居酒屋,日本料理,結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,台北住宿,國內訂房,台北HOTEL,台北婚宴,飯店優惠,台北結婚,場地,住宿,訂房,HOTEL,飯店,造型系列,學位,牛樟芝,腦磷脂,磷脂絲胺酸,SEO,婚宴,捷運,學區,美髮,儀器,髮型,牛樟芝,腦磷脂,磷脂絲胺酸,看房子,買房子,建商自售,自售,房子,捷運,學區,台北新成屋,台北豪宅,新成屋,豪宅,學位,碩士學位,進修,在職進修, 課程,教育,學位,證照,mba,文憑,學分班,網路廣告,關鍵字廣告,關鍵字,SEO,关键词,网络广告,关键词广告,SEO,关键词,网络广告,关键词广告,SEO,台北住宿,國內訂房,台北HOTEL,台北婚宴,飯店優惠,住宿,訂房,HOTEL,飯店,婚宴,台北住宿,國內訂房,台北HOTEL,台北婚宴,飯店優惠,住宿,訂房,HOTEL,飯店,婚宴,台北住宿,國內訂房,台北HOTEL,台北婚宴,飯店優惠,住宿,訂房,HOTEL,飯店,婚宴,結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,台北結婚,場地,結婚,場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,台北結婚,婚宴場地,結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,尾牙春酒,台北結婚,場地,居酒屋,燒烤,美髮,儀器,髮型,美髮,儀器,髮型,美髮,儀器,髮型,美髮,儀器,髮型,小套房,小套房,進修,在職進修,留學,證照,MBA,EMBA,留學,MBA,EMBA,留學,進修,在職進修,牛樟芝,段木,牛樟菇,關鍵字排名,網路行銷,关键词排名,网络营销,網路行銷,關鍵字排名,关键词排名,网络营销,PMP,在職專班,研究所在職專班,碩士在職專班,PMP,證照,在職專班,研究所在職專班,碩士在職專班,SEO,廣告,關鍵字,關鍵字排名,網路行銷,網頁設計,網站設計,網站排名,搜尋引擎,網路廣告,SEO,廣告,關鍵字,關鍵字排名,網路行銷,網頁設計,網站設計,網站排名,搜尋引擎,網路廣告,SEO,廣告,關鍵字,關鍵字排名,網路行銷,網頁設計,網站設計,網站排名,搜尋引擎,網路廣告,SEO,廣告,關鍵字,關鍵字排名,網路行銷,網頁設計,網站設計,網站排名,搜尋引擎,網路廣告,EMBA,MBA,PMP
,在職進修,專案管理,出國留學,EMBA,MBA,PMP
,在職進修,專案管理,出國留學,EMBA,MBA,PMP
,在職進修,專案管理,出國留學,婚宴,婚宴,婚宴,婚宴

住宿,民宿,飯宿,旅遊,住宿,民宿,飯宿,旅遊,住宿,民宿,飯宿,旅遊,住宿,民宿,飯宿,旅遊,住宿,民宿,飯宿,旅遊,住宿,民宿,飯宿,旅遊,住宿,民宿,飯宿,旅遊,美容,美髮,整形,造型,美容,美髮,整形,造型,美容,美髮,整形,造型,美容,美髮,整形,造型,美容,美髮,整形,造型,美容,美髮,整形,造型,美容,美髮,整形,造型,設計,室內設計,裝潢,房地產,設計,室內設計,裝潢,房地產,設計,室內設計,裝潢,房地產,設計,室內設計,裝潢,房地產,設計,室內設計,裝潢,房地產,設計,室內設計,裝潢,房地產,設計,室內設計,裝潢,房地產,設計,室內設計,裝潢,房地產,進修,在職進修,MBA,EMBA,進修,在職進修,MBA,EMBA,進修,在職進修,MBA,EMBA,進修,在職進修,MBA,EMBA,進修,在職進修,MBA,EMBA,進修,在職進修,MBA,EMBA,進修,在職進修,MBA,EMBA,住宿,民宿,飯店,旅遊,美容,美髮,整形,造型,設計,室內設計,裝潢,房地產,進修,在職進修,MBA,EMBA,羅志祥,周杰倫,五月天,蔡依林,林志玲,羅志祥,周杰倫,五月天,蔡依林,林志玲,羅志祥,周杰倫,五月天,蔡依林,羅志祥,周杰倫,五月天,蔡依林

3/31/2009 12:37 AM

DonKrieger: I have an idea:

You can see it at
http://wethepeople.evendon.com

There you will find realtime polls running (including an integrated simple chat). Each poll is to be used while viewing a live program. Results are tabulated and the graphics display is updated every 10 seconds.

The questionaire is designed to train people to recognize and protect themselves against deception and other indoctrination techniques. It's fun too.

I sure would like to see someone pick this up who can make it go. You can see that there's a critical mass to the viewership. If not enough people are involved, it's just dead and boring.

What do you think? Please feel free to contact me if you have thoughts.

Don

akadonnew @ verizon DOT net
blog: DonKrieger.blogspot.com
site: http://publicservice.evendon.com

4/02/2009 9:40 PM