Slips
This type of error occurs when a user is familiar with the goal or the action they are going to
perform. But accidentally they made a mistake while performing. To avoid the slips we must guide
the users by providing them the limited options to choose & to constrain the input types.
Slips are the kind of errors that are generally happened by the expert users.
Example 1: Microsoft Recycle Bin- WinOS
If the user deleted one of the important files in a
hurry while deleting the unimportant files,
Microsoft gives the ability to restore or to recover
the deleted file from the recycle bin at ease. But
it’s only possible if you have simply deleted and
not the shift+delete(permanently deleted).
Example 2: Gmail- Website
In Gmail, if the user deleted an important email by mistake they can undo that action by simply clicking on the “Undo” action button from the snackbar
from the lower-left corner.
Example 3: Bewakoof- Website
In Bewakoof's payment method screen, when the user inputs the card number which is a 16 digit number, it automatically adds spaces after input of
every 4 digits and totally ignores the user input of the spaces or dashes.
Example 4: Microsoft Word- WindowsOS
While writing in the word program, the typo error or the spelling mistake which also considered under the slip error was underlined by the red color, so
that the user can fix it.
Example 5: Axis Bank- Website
While login to the axis internet banking they ask the user in the end to enter the captcha code. To prevent the users to make slip error they mentioned
clearly that the “captcha code is case-sensitive” which suggests the users to check the “Caps Lock” before entering the code.
Mistakes
This type of error occurs when a user is not familiar with the mental model of the system or occurs when the user is trying to
perform an action that is not appropriate to the current system functionalities or the user will lack complete information related
to the task or a system. To avoid the mistakes the designer needs to do user research about the user's mental models and the
expectations. And also the designer must provide clear context & information of the task to the user.
Mistakes are the kind of errors that are generally happened by the users who has incomlpete
information about the task or any event and the mismatch of the mental model.
Example 1: Exito- Website
While making the password for the Exito e-
commerce website during the signup stage, the
system guides the user by indicating what should
be the combination to make a strong password.
Example 2: Microsoft Recycle Bin- WinOS
Microsoft confirming the user about the destructive action of deleting the files permanently. The users should always ask to confirm for any destructive
or important actions like delete, send payment, trade the stock, buy in quantity, etc.
Example 3: Zerodha- Website
This example is the badly designed login form which lacks
suggestion or guidance related to the “User Id”. This actually
happened with my mother who is not very familiar with dealing
with the technology. She’s a nursery teacher by profession & a
part-time stock trader. Once she tried to log in to her Kite
account from my desktop and was trying to enter her email
address as a User Id. But she was unable to write more than 6
characters and was very frustrated. She called me to help her.
What I have noticed immediately is that the user’s input is
validated only to 6 characters. Now I just need to find the 6
characters long user id. I checked her Gmail account for the
email template that could be sent to her with her User Id. And
yes I found that email and in that there Zerodha had mentioned
the 6 characters long User Id.
What they should do to match with the mental models of users
like my mother is to provide a clean and simple one-line
description under the UserID input saying- Please enter your 6
characters long user id that we have sent to your email address.
This simple message will definitely help hundred or thousands
of users for sure!
HDFC
HDFC Bank
Bank Axis
Axis Bank
Bank
Example 4: HDFC & Axis Bank- Website
See how in banking applications like HDFC & Axis, they confirm
with the user before the money transfer to its payees. Products
that deal with any kind of currencies will always ask its users to
confirm before the action performed. Because to resolve the
accidental payments, it requires more time & work.
Example 5: Paytm- Website
In Paytm, they have clearly specified the possible states of the seats that the user requires to make their decisions clearly. See how clearly they have
mentioned with colors and information like- Green for Selected Seats, Pink for the seats booked by ladies, Gray for the occupied seats, and so on.
