Move the Log Out button

Talk Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by IslandLiving, Aug 12, 2014.

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  1. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    Just because a few people ask for something doesn't mean that it needs to happen. If this was a wide-spread issue/request, we'd certainly consider it, but as it stands now we'll pass on the request.
     
    #21 Todd, Mar 28, 2015
  2. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    While recognizing that at the end of the day you'll continue to make the call as you think best, I'd recommend re-visiting this issue/strategy as a medium range choice in your thinking/planning for the future.

    While at the moment it seems that the vast majority of users of this web site can be accommodated with either a smart phone sized app using touch input or with a desktop/laptop sized screen using a standard browser along with mouse/touchpad input, I think that is changing as multiple size screens with direct touch and gesture input are becoming much more common. There are multiple indicators that tablet devices are not a fad and are of growing popularity. So the market for hand held devices with a range of screen sizes and the finger as a "direct manipulation" input device isn't going away soon.

    One indicator is increasing sales/promotion of devices that can be used either by touch screen or by "touch" typing. Another is the increasing number of apps showing up (e.g., in the Apple store) which look and feel differently on iPhones and iPads while providing the same basic functionality. And with some of the applications on my laptop there are some quite successful developers who are now making no bones about the fact that their desktop/laptop versions have modified/changed as a result of their experiences designing for various screeen sizes. So I suggest that optimizing two different apps with the same name on the logo, one only for desktop/laptop and the other only for smart phone, is going to create a vacuum as neither option will be what some users are looking to have.

    Enjoy your day.
     
    #22 drtth, Mar 29, 2015
  3. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    @drtth: We're talking about a single hyperlink on the desktop site with limited interaction, but thanks for your dissertation on the future of UI.

    That said, your research failed to acknowledge that as touch-based devices evolve so does they're accuracy, which could very well explain the utter lack of complaints/requests (other than this thread) regarding the positioning of the log out button, which of course has been situated in its current position since 2003 (more or less).

    Your thoughts on gesture input extend beyond the keyboard and character input, which is where it's primary use is contained. Thus its inclusion is irrelevant within the context.

    Furthermore, there's no mention of the slow resurgence of the stylus and its accuracy, or the future of voice, optical, and other non-tactile interfaces, as it specifically relates to our log out hyperlink.

    As for creating multiple versions of the site (" two different apps" as you say) in order to optimize the experience for merely two different user experiences, that's a dated and narrow approach that would result in wasted resources. Instead, we'd rather explore wrapping BeerAdvocate.com with the next generation of responsive web design in order to provide users on any device with an intuitive and more consistent experience.

    And what about moving the log in hyperlink? I know ... another day.

    Anyway. Rest assured that we'll re-visit the positioning of the log out hyperlink if we conclude that in doing so it'll improve the UI experience for most users versus a few. Until that day, there's simply not enough demand or need for it; let alone data. And who knows what other solutions technology will provide us in the upcoming years? Exciting times ahead ...

    Good day.
     
    #23 Todd, Mar 29, 2015
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