What an interesting concept and creative way to really showcase not only all the things we have now come accustom to seeing or clicking on when browsing a website but the importance of understanding some of the motivation behind it. And in this case all of the things we expect to be where they are have been flipped upside down and turned around to create major confusion. A gentle reminder maybe not to get too comfortable with ‘clicking’ on everything.
This game reminded me of the frustration I feel when having to create another username/password and not meeting the criteria! This concept of dark patterns really should be something we think about as more and more services are going digital. This exercise was a valuable one in reminding us to slow down and read the fine print (something hard to do when you are being timed and constant reminders of running out of time, ha!) and even that can be manipulated.
Here are a few of the things I noticed:
- The giant NO button which you instinctively want to click but the fact that the word NO is there, makes you consider alternatives -the fine print…
- The title Inyerface -humourous play on words to perhaps prepare us for what is to come
- The long list of criteria for the password with specific words used such as: should, requires, must, ‘can’ -I like that one…
- How you close the Hurry Up pop up without ending the game.
- The slow speed at which the Help box would go to bottom up but continued to get in the way on each page
- The gender identification piece being glaringly inappropriate -such as the ‘male’ box already clicked and having to put opposite of the gender wanting to put
Some feelings I felt:
- Panic to complete but also to complete it ‘correctly’
- Humour -mostly at how I have become so used to just clicking on things in the place they are in without properly paying attention
- Worry for the exact reason I found humour
A mindful exercise in the role social media, advertising and our own comfort play in what we do and get drawn into on the internet. I think of what a great lesson this would be for students we work with as their whole world is becoming more and more digital. A fun way to learn some valuable lessons!
References:
Brignull, H. (2011). Dark Patterns: Deception vs. Honesty in UI Design. Interaction Design, Usability, 338.
Harris, T. (2017). How a handful of tech companies control billions of minds every day. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/tristan_harris_the_manipulative_tricks_tech_companies_use_to_capture_your_attention?language=en