[IxDA Discuss] Small usability issue - forms

[Jim Drew]

>The scenario I am referring to is an age verification "form" on a web
>site where the user is required to enter month/day/year of their birth
>date to enter the site. It seems the sentiment of the feedback (thank
>you by the way!) is that if the form or data entry is a standard one for
>the user, or the data fields are related (which these are) auto-tabbing
>can be useful. My question then becomes... is an age verification as a
>stand alone something that a user would be familiar enough with to fall
>under a "standard?" It's not like most sites have these types entry
>points, so it's not a standard practice that someone would use every
>day. So in this scenario, is it more of a hindrance than a help?

One of the values in this particular case is that many people (are trained to) think of their birth date as a single string of numbers -- 41663, rather than 4, 16, 63 -- so the ability to enter them in a swell foop may be of use.  I think there's something less of that mental model with telephone numbers -- I tend to think of them as at least area code/number, if not as areas code/prefix/number -- and thus less usefulness in the autotabbing.

Is it familiar enough to be a standard?  Maybe not, but maybe it could become one.  The first time I encountered auto-tabbing in a useful context, I had a little user "cool" moment.  The more places the feature shows up, even with marginal utility, the more people will come to anticipate, then desire, then expect it, which could drive to a standard.  Someone has to lead the charge; go beer!

-- Jim
   Seattle