[Mediawiki-i18n] Length of messages in BetaFeatures

[Pau Giner]

>
> Indeed, except when you do want to know more. So offer more info: in a
> tooltip, a link to more info, or an "expanded explanation".


Another factor to consider about the length of descriptions is whether you
are displaying a list of items or a detailed view of one of them.
In a list, the overload of text multiplies per the number of elements
making it harder to scan.

App stores and browser extension repositories, show very little information
when displaying a list of apps/add-ons (icon, category, user
feedback/users, and some include a short description). Detail pages have
longer descriptions (although screenshots galleries are normally more
prominent than descriptions in that context).

Longer descriptions at detail pages are not that problematic in comparison,
but even there the more concise and clear the information the better. If
users know that there are no problematic side-effects by adding/removing a
feature (the platform should convey that), users will be encouraged to
explore and try them.


Pau



On Wed, Sep 4, 2013 at 9:39 PM, S Page <spage at wikimedia.org> wrote:

> On Wed, Sep 4, 2013 at 11:44 AM, Siebrand Mazeland (WMF) <
> smazeland at wikimedia.org> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, Sep 4, 2013 at 8:34 PM, Mark Holmquist <mtraceur at member.fsf.org>wrote:
>>
>>> I *want* there
>>>
>> to be long-form descriptions of these features. People are working on
>>> them and want to "sell" them to users, and this is their chance. ...
>>>
>>
>> ... People don't read. Really, they don't[1].
>>
>
> Indeed, except when you do want to know more. So offer more info: in a
> tooltip, a link to more info, or an "expanded explanation".
>
> The create account form tells you to enter a username, and some people
> (who really want the username "Foo@☺ Admin") need a longer explanation.
> E3 tried a tipsy pop-up but I think a label that expands to provide more
> info would be a useful gadget in both places.
>
> --
> =S Page
>
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>
>


-- 
Pau Giner
Interaction Designer
Wikimedia Foundation
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