Pattern 41: Feedback [Abstract]
 AKA:

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How do you make sure the sure knows what the results of his mouse clicks are?

Therefore

Every time you design a feature of the site think how it will provide information to the user. Ask if the user will be able to predict the effect of every action she can take. Will she always know what the new state is. Use progress indicators in addition to those provided by the browser.

Give the user a SENSE OF PROGRESS (48). Employ THE RHETORIC OF ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE (20). Avoid BROKEN BUTTONS (59).

Discussion - forces - known uses

The simplest feedback device is perhaps the electrical thermostat. Such a device measures the output temperature of a device such as an iron and switches the current off when the temperature reaches a predetermined, but possibly variable, value. Should the temperature fall below that value again, as it usually will, the device can turn the switch on again. Biology is replete with examples of benefits from feedback devices: from the balancing of a jellyfish based on feedback from its very small nervous system to the accurate footfalls of an Olympic hurdler based on a complex tableau of feedback from visual, tactile and possibly other sense organs.

The principle of feedback is central to user interface design. When it is not provided users make mistakes. If the make mistakes they will not return to your site.

Examples
When selecting an HTML button over a graphic button we must consider that the former will be faster and will render in a familiar way on various operating systems so that users can exploit transfer effects. Perhaps the most important reason for using proper ‘buttony’ buttons is the feedback they provide by appearing to be depressed when clicked (at least on PCs).

Another common example of lack of feedback occurs when the user clicks on a link and nothing appears to happen for a while. This can be disorienting and can lead to errors if he keeps on clicking. Progress bars built into most browser are not always prominent enough to attract the user’s attention and sometimes are misleading.

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