The lock paradigm
The lock paradigm
- Subject: The lock paradigm
- From: Eric Long <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 10:02:26 -0700
Hi all,
I'm looking for some input on a UI question related to how to indicate to a
user the state of authorization.
The locked/unlocked icon pairing is great for indicating black and white
states of access - closed/open, but what about a semi-open state?
If an application has functions that perform usefully without
authenticating, but can provide more extensive operations with
authorization, what is the best way to represent that to the user?
If the functions are not closed off to a user without authentication, but
are just less broad in impact, and the benefit to access wider
functionality is only occasionally pursued, then a user could perhaps be
encouraged to simply launch the program with sudo, or something, but if in
common usage it is best to allow users a more flexible means of switching
modes, the locked/unlocked icon set appears to fall short. The locked state
seems to represent being cut off from certain functionality as a whole,
while in this case the user isn't shut off, it's just that the functionality
will not provide as extensive a result.
It seems like there should be a mixed state represented, to say "your not
quite closed off, but you're not completely unleashed either."
I'm not sure I've seen this represented anywhere. I'm sure this is not a
wholly uncommon scenario though. What do you think the best way to handle
this application would be?
Thanks for any feedback on this.
Eric
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