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Yes, I find them confusing as well. It's because the 2 options are mutually exclusive. So you have to decide to either display the current state (On or Off), or
by bbx 14y ago
Yes, I find them confusing as well. It's because the 2 options are mutually exclusive. So you have to decide to either display the current state (On or Off), or display the possible action (switching to On or Off).
It always takes me a few seconds to figure it out. In the end, I believe displaying two radio buttons is the best option here.
- patrickaljord 14y agoThere was a post on HN with a fix for that problem, I can't find it right now but maybe someone could.
- Alexx 14y agohttp://www.chrisnorstrom.com/2012/11/invention-multiple-choice-windowed-slider-ui/ http://www.chrisnorstrom.com/2012/11/invention-multiple-choi... I think that's the post you are referring to. He sums up nicely why this standard style of 'on / off' slider is a terrible UI choice.
- aw3c2 14y agoThey are not a terrible choice. On the contrary! They are used everywhere in iOS! Would Apple do that if it was not intuitive and perfect?
- patrickaljord 14y agoThis is a case where Apple got it wrong and everyone copied Apple anyway because Apple. Seriously though, I'm not sure Apple invented these switches but they sure helped popularize them. And yes, I do think they are terrible.
- aw3c2 14y agoSorry, I made a sarcastic comment without closing the tab before posting. Not HN etiquette.
- patrickaljord 14y agoI knew you were being sarcastic. I was just adding my agreeing comment :)
- kennu 14y agoI would point out that in Apple's iOS case, the sliders are always consistent in two ways: - The slider always displays the current value. So the UI reads quite naturally: "Airplane Mode is OFF". - The "Off" value is always without color (gray, matching the background of the UI), and the "On" value is shown with a vivid color, indicating it's active. I never found them to be confusing in iOS myself. But consistency is very important so that you don't break the user's trust.
- Kudos 14y agoA checkbox is a better option than two radio buttons.
- methodin 14y agoThese things equate to literal switches by design. Has anyone used them to indicate the action to be done when pressed? If so they are clearly confusing buttons with switches. Assuming a switch would steer your right 99% of the time - the other 1% of the time you probably should just close that site's tab and never visit it again. You cannot control that - but then again I can create a button that is just as confusing.