Button Long Press Activation

2 points by nofunsir 2y ago ↗ HN

I'd like to hear what others here think about "long-press activation",and its seemingly increased usage by manufacturers of devices, particularly those devices that have some sort of firmware.

As a user, I can't stress enough how I really have grown to dislike long-press activation (or deactivation).

As a first example, I have two devices in my RV which use long-press for several functions: the TV and the stereo through which the TV passes audio. A common function they both use long-press on their power buttons, with a short press to do the opposite (i.e. turn off or on). Here's the kicker: They use opposite schemes! - the TV is a long-press ON, short-press OFF; yet, the radio is a short-press ON, long-press OFF! Or it could be vice versa, I genuinely can't remember.

As a second example, I have a bedside reading light that has three states: OFF, ON:BLUE LIGHT, ON:WHITE LIGHT. You'd think that it would be a simple one-button solution of OFF -> (press) -> BLUE -> (press) -> WHITE -> (press) -> OFF. Nope. It's: OFF -> (press) -> BLUE -> (press) -> OFF {and} BLUE -> (3 second press) -> WHITE -> (3 second press) -> BLUE.

This makes me question several things:

- Have we really abandoned state-machine design to such a degree as to not realize that ON -> OFF and OFF -> ON, do NOT require "opposite" functions of the same button simply because they are "opposite" states?

- Is the TV trying to get me to never accidentally turn it on, while the Radio trying to never accidentally turn it off? What trains-of-thought led to one device being completely opposite of a related device?

- Are the developers simply blindly copying others? Or are there case studies that show my washer, dryer, dishwasher, AND oven need to arbitrarily put 2-3 second delays on some functions and not on others? (I understand if there is a dedicated lockout button for children.)

- Why is the default length around 2-3 seconds? This is far, far too long, and it's the reason I started to become aware of the increasing use of long-press activation. This length of time is beyond long enough to break my own train of thought.

It's no longer, "Let me do the thing, bop the button I have muscle memory for, and get back to what I was doing."

It's become, "Let me do the thing, oh crap, which buttons have long press? How long are presses on this device? This is an LG, right? No, Samsung. Shit. Why didn't the mode take? Let me just start over. I'll turn it off and on again (long-press, pause, long-press). Crap! Before I can long-press the start button, the device is forcing me to turn the jog wheel even though it's already on the setting I want. ok...3..........2......(this is taking forever).....1....... (silence)? Did it start? Did I release a few milliseconds too soon? I think I did. Let me try aga... (beep boowooop). Beep boowoop?! That sounded like a sad 'beep bwoooop'. What does THAT mean? Did it turn off? (sound of water running in the pipes). Whew, I think I got it. Ok, now what was I doing?"

- My sanity.

- Can I please have 3D touch back?

1 comment

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jslabovitz 2y ago ↗

I highly doubt there's much genuine 'design' being done on these kinds of UIs, and certainly there's no value in trying to universally coordinate UI choices (minus, perhaps, the global '1/0' symbol for ON/OFF). I reckon the values being followed are instead that of cost-savings, both in materials (fewer switches make it cheaper), and in developer/engineer time. Just make it work, more or less; the dishwasher/TV/etc. is just going to be replaced in a few years anyway. It doesn't matter, and most people don't (unfortunately) care.

I generally refuse to buy devices that work this way. Granted, that strongly limits my choices in the market. But in the end, I'm much happier.

It takes effect to find appliances that don't have crazy UI (or bright blue LEDs!), but instead have discrete and direct control -- but they do exist. For appliances, I've found that units sold to elder/senior citizens are designed better: they often have real buttons/knobs, much simpler functions, and a high degree of safety built in.