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Toy cars in shops have the cars and trucks all facing right in the packaging. Maybe they've done some ab-testing to get this way. Maybe not. Maybe putting his

Toy cars in shops have the cars and trucks all facing right in the packaging. Maybe they've done some ab-testing to get this way. Maybe not. Maybe putting his airplanes facing left made your veteran's models pop because they were inconsistent with other models. Anyway, if you want to make people read the options on buttons, randomize the order each time the popup appears but always destructive buttons like "delete" red colours.

laythea 8y ago
Please don't randomise the location of UI components. I don't want to have to find the button I want. Your users will thank you.
- tehlike 8y ago
  Agreed, but I would still do it on a small traffic/user to see its impact. This kind of data is invaluable.
cyberferret 8y ago
Back in the 80's or 90's, I used a popular editor (can't remember the name, but it might have been by Borland), that randomised the 'Yes/No/Cancel' buttons if you tried to quit without saving. Whilst I initially thought it was cool, it quickly wore me out. Often times, if I was in the 'flow' of editing, that tiny fraction of time that it took me to stop and have to actually read the screen (instead of habitually clicking on a position without even reading) was enough to interrupt my thought processes and impact my productivity. I think it would be like randomly rearranging the clutch/brake/throttle pedals on a manual car every day. Sometimes you just want your tools to stay out of the way and not interrupt you when you are busy. It is far better to have your feet (oh, ok - mouse cursor) fall to the right places without having to think too much, especially if your mind is busy on more important stuff happening.
Uristqwerty 8y ago
Is that packaging style the same for all English-speaking countries? Standing on the side of the road and facing traffic, you'd expect all of the near vehicles to be facing right in North America, so perhaps that carried, consciously or otherwise, into packaging decisions.
- fnord123 8y ago
  I was in a toy shop recently and it's actually about 70-75% right facing, so not all. I don't think there's a pattern based in some underlying reasons - though it is fun to fantasize about those possible reasons.

laythea 8y ago

Please don't randomise the location of UI components. I don't want to have to find the button I want. Your users will thank you.

tehlike 8y ago
Agreed, but I would still do it on a small traffic/user to see its impact. This kind of data is invaluable.

cyberferret 8y ago

Back in the 80's or 90's, I used a popular editor (can't remember the name, but it might have been by Borland), that randomised the 'Yes/No/Cancel' buttons if you tried to quit without saving. Whilst I initially thought it was cool, it quickly wore me out. Often times, if I was in the 'flow' of editing, that tiny fraction of time that it took me to stop and have to actually read the screen (instead of habitually clicking on a position without even reading) was enough to interrupt my thought processes and impact my productivity. I think it would be like randomly rearranging the clutch/brake/throttle pedals on a manual car every day. Sometimes you just want your tools to stay out of the way and not interrupt you when you are busy. It is far better to have your feet (oh, ok - mouse cursor) fall to the right places without having to think too much, especially if your mind is busy on more important stuff happening.

Uristqwerty 8y ago

Is that packaging style the same for all English-speaking countries? Standing on the side of the road and facing traffic, you'd expect all of the near vehicles to be facing right in North America, so perhaps that carried, consciously or otherwise, into packaging decisions.

fnord123 8y ago
I was in a toy shop recently and it's actually about 70-75% right facing, so not all. I don't think there's a pattern based in some underlying reasons - though it is fun to fantasize about those possible reasons.