Mircrointeractions
Most content is copied directly from the websites mentioned in the sources. These contents were done so to help education with different pieces of information gathered under one heading!
Microinteractions are the contained product moments that do one small task.
As first described in Dan Saffer’s book Microinteractions, these tiny details typically serve these essential functions:
Small things. Even a login button could matter--everything about the occassions upon which its color changes, and animations take place and some warnings come up... These things add up to make a greater impact.
Examples of microinteractions
Microinteraction model (mostly excerpt from the words of Dan Saffer)
Some tips for microinteraction (see more at uxplanet.org):
Things to remember (directly copied from uxplanet.org)
Sources:
Microinteractions are the contained product moments that do one small task.
As first described in Dan Saffer’s book Microinteractions, these tiny details typically serve these essential functions:
- Communicate feedback or the result of an action.
- Accomplish an individual task.
- Enhance the sense of direct manipulation.
- Help users visualize the results of their actions and prevent errors.
Small things. Even a login button could matter--everything about the occassions upon which its color changes, and animations take place and some warnings come up... These things add up to make a greater impact.
Examples of microinteractions
- "Translate this page" option on Google.
- Autocomplete on any useful circumstances
- Autocorrect
- Like on Facebook
- Pull to refresh
Microinteraction model (mostly excerpt from the words of Dan Saffer)
- Trigger: an action of user that starts the microinteraction. Triggers may happen based on environment or convention, or even system. The best trigger is the one that predicts the user's need without letting the user tell about it.
- Rules: definition of what can and cannot be done with microinteraction. Rules determine what happens and in what order they happen when the user pushes that button or when a message arrives. The rules should be natural. Rules can prevent human error by blocking (or fixing) actions that would break the microinteraction. For example, Gmail is infamous for helping people catch an email before it goes out without an attachment if they've written, "I've attached…".
- Feedback: Feedback can be visual, aural, or haptic, with visual being the most prevalent for the simple reason we're usually looking at what we're interacting with.
- Loops & Modes: The length of time the microinteraction maintains--does it go again when the same trigger takes place? or does it happen only once? Long loops can help extend your microinteraction into the future, asking you to consider what happens when the user returns the second time, then tenth time, the thousandth time with your microinteraction.
Some tips for microinteraction (see more at uxplanet.org):
- Show system status
- Show progress bar
- Highlight changes (if a new email arrives, the email icon may change with some kind of animation)
- Keep context (Use motion to smoothly transport users between navigational contexts, explain changes in the arrangement of elements on a screen.)
- Visualize input (as you type in, your input should be reflected somehow in the app)
- Call to action (Microinteractions have the power to encourage users to actually interact. They can bring empathy in user experience. But make sure the visual cues and animations are appropriate for your users)
Things to remember (directly copied from uxplanet.org)
- Microinteractions act as facilitators for interactions, with feedback, notifications and instructions.
- Microinteractions should save time by instantly communicating information in a way that doesn’t bore or distract the user. They should catch the user’s attention like a sly wink.
- Knowing your users and the context behind the microinteractions will make them more precise and effective.
- Microinteractions must survive long-term use. What seems fun the first time might become annoying after the 100th use.
- Add humanity to the microinteraction and focus on visual harmony. The motion should feel fluid to make the microinteraction come to life.
Sources:
- http://www.usmansheikh.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/interactions.png (image)
- https://uxplanet.org/microinteractions-the-secret-to-great-app-design-4cfe70fbaccf#.vzh1opwxq
- https://www.uxpin.com/studio/blog/interaction-design-trends-11-microinteractions-deconstructed/
- http://microinteractions.com
- http://www.creativebloq.com/web-design/improve-your-site-microinteractions-10134906