Ross Esmond

Code, Prose, and Mathematics.

portrait of myself, Ross Esmond
Written

Miscommunication

A miscommunication in application design is any mistaken user action that the user did not intend to apply. This includes accidentally selecting a clickable element with their pointer, a misclick, and accidentally typing the wrong text, a typo. Miscommunications are distinct from Misunderstandings, as with misunderstandings the user intended their precise input, but misunderstood its meaning, but with miscommunications, the user did not intend their input at all. A miscommunication is best resolved by having good Feedback for user actions and by making those actions Reversible.