Projects/Usability/HIG/Notifications: Difference between revisions

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== Purpose ==
== Purpose ==
A ''notification'' is an information that is not directly relevant to the user's current task. It is displayed via a certain [[Projects/Usability/HIG/NotificationMechanism|notification mechanism]] on a panel above/below the taskbar notification area. Notifications inform users about non-critical problems, but they don't prevent them.
A ''notification'' is an information that is not directly relevant to the user's current task. It is displayed via a certain notification mechanism on a panel above/below the taskbar notification area. Notifications inform users about non-critical problems, but they don't prevent them.


Notifications pop up and overlay all other windows. Multiple notifications are stacked vertically. Notifications disappear after a short period automatically (unless the cursor hovers over them), but can be closed by the user at any point. Each notification has its own [[Projects/Usability/HIG/CentralConfiguration|central configuration]] which can be reached by a button next to the close button.
== Examples ==
== Examples ==
(remark: pictures only?)
 
=== Positive ===
* Email received
* New update available
* Download completed
* Low battery power
todo: picture
=== Negative ===
* Low space on medium (this information becomes relevant for file managers and invoked as modal message in this case)
todo: picture
== Guidelines ==
== Guidelines ==
* Do not use notifications for user assistance (consider to use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Tooltip|tool-tips]] or [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Balloon|balloons]] for short information, or refer to [[Projects/Usability/HIG/HelpSystem|help system]] for extended text.
=== Is this the right control ===
* Do not use notifications for context relevant information that might interfere with the actual workflow (consider to use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/MessageDialog|message dialog]].
* Use a notification to inform about a non-critical problem that is not directly relevant to the user's current task.
* Do not add controls to notification. <span style="color:blue">Thomas: I would remove this. Adding action buttons is allowed in the API and has reasonable use cases, other controls simply cannot be added technically)</span>
* Do not use notifications for user assistance (consider to use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Tooltip|tool-tips]] for short information, or refer to [[Projects/Usability/HIG/HelpSystem|help system]] for extended text).
* Do not override system settings. (remark: more specific)  <span style="color:blue">Thomas: Which settings do you mean here?</span>
* Do not use notifications for context relevant information that might interfere with the actual workflow (consider to use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Messages|message dialog]]).
* Provide title and content text (remark: not precise enough) <span style="color:blue">Thomas: guidelines regarding the wording of title and content are indeed very important. Maybe celeste can help here.</span>
 
* Make sure to make the origin of the notification clear from the notification title. For instance: "Amarok: Now playing" or "Konsole: Event"
=== Behavior ===
* Notifications disappear after a short period automatically (unless the cursor hovers over them), but can be closed by the user at any point.
* Stack multiple notifications vertically.
* Provide access to the configuration for each notification per button next to the close button.
 
=== Appearance ===
* Make sure to make the origin of the notification clear from the notification title. For instance: "Amarok: Now playing" or "Konsole: Event".
* Keep the notification content concise (no more than about three simple sentences).
* Keep the notification content concise (no more than about three simple sentences).
* Customize notification with the origin's icon.  <span style="color:blue">Heiko: (remark: word "origin" needs to be replaced; "icon" might be replaced by technical term) </span>
* Provide actionable information (e.g. "Low battery power: Approximately 13 min (2%) capacity remaining.").
* Provide actionable information (e.g. "Low battery power" "Only 13 min (2%) capacity remaining. Please save your stuff now. Your system will get shut down soon.") <span style="color:blue">Heiko: (remark: should be according actual text)</span>
 
* <span style="color:blue">Heiko: to be defined: Are all notifications configured in KCM? If not, how to separate? -- Kai Uwe: All notifications emitted through KNotify (ie. application has a notifyrc file) can be configured. Using the FDO notification dbus iface directly is discouraged. In 4.11 there's a configure button on notifications.</span>
== Implementation ==


== Code snippets ==
[[Category:Usability]][[Category:Behavior]][[Category:User_Assistance]][[Category:User-driven_assistance]]
to be done

Revision as of 13:43, 27 November 2013


Purpose

A notification is an information that is not directly relevant to the user's current task. It is displayed via a certain notification mechanism on a panel above/below the taskbar notification area. Notifications inform users about non-critical problems, but they don't prevent them.

Examples

Guidelines

Is this the right control

  • Use a notification to inform about a non-critical problem that is not directly relevant to the user's current task.
  • Do not use notifications for user assistance (consider to use tool-tips for short information, or refer to help system for extended text).
  • Do not use notifications for context relevant information that might interfere with the actual workflow (consider to use a message dialog).

Behavior

  • Notifications disappear after a short period automatically (unless the cursor hovers over them), but can be closed by the user at any point.
  • Stack multiple notifications vertically.
  • Provide access to the configuration for each notification per button next to the close button.

Appearance

  • Make sure to make the origin of the notification clear from the notification title. For instance: "Amarok: Now playing" or "Konsole: Event".
  • Keep the notification content concise (no more than about three simple sentences).
  • Provide actionable information (e.g. "Low battery power: Approximately 13 min (2%) capacity remaining.").

Implementation