Common Interaction Features.
After years of building websites for our clients, we've spotted a few common interaction features. We've pulled together a list of these to show how they can be done well. It's not exhaustive but hopefully, this list gives some clarity and inspiration.
Common interaction features include:
Natural Language.
There are many circumstances where organisations need to collect detailed data or ensure the user gets to the right place quickly and intuitively. Natural Language forms help guide users through a complex interaction in a conversational way.
User question: How do I know I am doing it right?
There are many circumstances where organisations need to collect detailed data or ensure the user gets to the right place quickly and intuitively. Natural Language forms help guide users through a complex interaction in a conversational way.
User question: How do I know I am doing it right?
Cross-sell Aggregators.
Many sites are built to support to provide a range of content to educate users or help them explore a wide variety of content. Google has enabled users to land directly on deep content pages, without interacting with a site’s navigation.
User question: What else is relevant to me?
Many sites are built to support to provide a range of content to educate users or help them explore a wide variety of content. Google has enabled users to land directly on deep content pages, without interacting with a site’s navigation.
User question: What else is relevant to me?
Calculators.
Calculators are used in various user experience applications from mortgage calculators and quotes to more complex examples like Tenancy.govt.nz’s Heating Tool. It’s important that the calculator helps the user understand the various inputs and include a level of comparison to help users experiment with various scenarios.
User question: "What’s the number?"
Calculators are used in various user experience applications from mortgage calculators and quotes to more complex examples like Tenancy.govt.nz’s Heating Tool. It’s important that the calculator helps the user understand the various inputs and include a level of comparison to help users experiment with various scenarios.
User question: "What’s the number?"
Process Funnels.
When there’s a plethora of options or the options are difficult to understand, a process funnel helps users identify what the right answer is for them. Process Funnels often gradually collect information without overwhelming users to give users an answer (or small set of answers) that helps them move on and get what they really need.
User question: "What's the right answer for me?"
When there’s a plethora of options or the options are difficult to understand, a process funnel helps users identify what the right answer is for them. Process Funnels often gradually collect information without overwhelming users to give users an answer (or small set of answers) that helps them move on and get what they really need.
User question: "What's the right answer for me?"
Trainers.
Trainers help create a pathway for users to firstly identify their current skillset and then find a pathway that helps them develop it. Trainers can be high-level assessments or deeply personalised pathways that users interact with over time.
User question: "What's my growth or next step?"
Trainers help create a pathway for users to firstly identify their current skillset and then find a pathway that helps them develop it. Trainers can be high-level assessments or deeply personalised pathways that users interact with over time.
User question: "What's my growth or next step?"
Profilers.
Profilers help users compare themselves to others. Usually, the tool holds a dataset for various data points and uses this dataset to compare to the user. In other cases, the profiler asks the user to identify the comparison and then draws insights for the user from their comparison.
User question: "How do I measure up?"
Profilers help users compare themselves to others. Usually, the tool holds a dataset for various data points and uses this dataset to compare to the user. In other cases, the profiler asks the user to identify the comparison and then draws insights for the user from their comparison.
User question: "How do I measure up?"
Alerts & Advisories
Alerts and advisories are used to highlight key content to site users for a range of reasons; for example, time-sensitive content, new content, or targeted personalisation. Depending on the context the alert may take over the site, or just gently nudge users and be easily dismissed.
User question: "How would I know it's urgent?"
Alerts and advisories are used to highlight key content to site users for a range of reasons; for example, time-sensitive content, new content, or targeted personalisation. Depending on the context the alert may take over the site, or just gently nudge users and be easily dismissed.
User question: "How would I know it's urgent?"