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Redesigning Hawaii’s Emergency Alert System UI

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Re: Redesigning Hawaii’s Emergency Alert System UI

#3
We're going to see a multitude of design hot takes here over the next 10 days, but I think most of these designers are missing the problem. The interface that caused this failure isn't because the system lacked designers. This design was created by being handcuffed by bureaucracy, with no strong leadership in place to solve the problems that were caused.

Re: Redesigning Hawaii’s Emergency Alert System UI

#4
Imagining using this 3-page design makes me feel uncomfortable at step 2 and 3. What if I didn't know what the "test" notification was supposed to look like and wanted to make sure the system took my input correctly? What if it's such a dire emergency that the operator forgets (perhaps from experiencing intense anxiety) which one was selected? I think a stronger approach would be to flatten the design to one page. You could then visually confirm that you've chosen a test/real alert, which alert was chosen, and then see what those options actually produce. In addition, because of the seriousness of sending an alert, I think it would be better to make the "Yes, Send Now" button harder to engage — maybe a slide to send, press and hold to send, or simply give a confirmation dialog after clicking it would help.

Re: Redesigning Hawaii’s Emergency Alert System UI

#5

Imagining using this 3-page design makes me feel uncomfortable at step 2 and 3. What if I didn't know what the "test" notification was supposed to look like and wanted to make sure the system took my input correctly? What if it's such a dire emergency that the operator forgets (perhaps from experiencing intense anxiety) which one was selected? I think a stronger approach would be to flatten the design to one page. Yo…

You should probably also keep in mind that this isn't a consumer app. Who ever uses this will have seen the entire process before and tested it in a training environment. The redesign seems mostly to focus on making sure stuff isn't done by accident.

Re: Redesigning Hawaii’s Emergency Alert System UI

#6
It looks like it would help prevent the recent incident, but the confirmation screen at the end doesn't make it clear whether it's a test or a real thing. I know there was that big screen at the front, but if you're confirming something you need all the options presented again to double check.

Re: Redesigning Hawaii’s Emergency Alert System UI

#7
Going the other way, on /r/ProgrammerHumor/ they're showing designs that are even worse than the original.

https://gfycat.com/DevotedUnfortunateBongo

https://gfycat.com/KindlyEverlastingGibbon

https://gfycat.com/PepperyGoldenAfricanpiedkingfisher

https://i.redd.it/ubnpsrzljla01.gif

https://v.redd.it/8pcx6ymh0ha01

https://gfycat.com/QueasyGrandIriomotecat

https://i.redd.it/y0a33r0ohja01.png

https://gfycat.com/BadOrganicCanary

https://gfycat.com/BabyishBonyHorseshoebat

https://gfycat.com/RegalHighAlaskanhusky

Re: Redesigning Hawaii’s Emergency Alert System UI

#8
I think step 2 and 3 are not very clear that you are sending an important message to millions of people, that should only be send in a rare occasion. It could just be that the designer likes red.

What blows my mind is that something like this can be send by a single person. A better approach would be that you need 2 or 3 people to send such an alert to millions of people.

How can a single person, that misplaced it's cursor by 20 pixels have such an effect? That is not only changed by fancier fonts and more colors IMO.

Re: Redesigning Hawaii’s Emergency Alert System UI

#9

Imagining using this 3-page design makes me feel uncomfortable at step 2 and 3. What if I didn't know what the "test" notification was supposed to look like and wanted to make sure the system took my input correctly? What if it's such a dire emergency that the operator forgets (perhaps from experiencing intense anxiety) which one was selected? I think a stronger approach would be to flatten the design to one page. Yo…

You should probably also keep in mind that this isn't a consumer app. Who ever uses this will have seen the entire process before and tested it in a training environment. The redesign seems mostly to focus on making sure stuff isn't done by accident.

I would imagine that the operators of the current UI were trained on it as well. What the OP posted is certainly an improvement, but could be made bulletproof by showing each choice in context alongside a button that you can't accidentally trigger.
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