[IxDA Discuss] email address as username

[Robert Barlow-Busch]

I believe that sites should not *require* an email address as the  
userID. It's common for some folks to have multiple addresses (which  
did I use?) and for addresses to change (hmm, what *was* that  
address..?). In some recent usability tests, I've observed  
participants complaining about the registration/signin process for  
these two reasons.

Sites should accept anything as a userID, with very few restrictions.  
If I want to use an email address -- hey, no problem! If I want to  
use my first name or even my DNA sequence -- hey, no problem! The  
purpose of the userID is simply to identify, not to authenticate, as  
someone mentioned in an earlier post. Security belongs in the  
password, IMHO.

It's the *requiring* an email address that I disagree with. If you  
want that info so you can stay in touch with people, then ask them  
for the address separately.

-- 
Robert Barlow-Busch
Practice Director, Interaction Design
Quarry Integrated Communications Inc.
rbarlowbusch at quarry.com
(519) 570-2020

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