September 4, 2009
Usability Crimes
Occasionally, in my capacity as a web user I spot things so terrible, so badly thought out and so downright arrogant it makes me sad. Below is one such thing…
If you can’t quite make it out, let me explain. Thats an input for a memorable date and a PIN number when opening an account, and they have disabled your keyboard completely so you must enter the numbers by clicking the onscreen keypad.
UPDATE: Since opening my account I have locked myself out twice, why? Because to add to the confusion the order of the numbers on the keypad changes every visit.
4 comments
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Pezholio has knocked it on the head there.
There is method to their madness, and against most generic key loggers or mouse watchers, this will provide adequate security. However, on the surface it’s a usability nightmare – I wonder if they provide a web alternative though? Or just expect people to use Telephone banking if they can’t use the web?
However, don’t you think it’s a little hypocritical to complain about usability, and then provide a screen shot – which is barely readable/usable? At least make it so it’s enlargeable :-p
And what’s with this website box? I have to have a website, before I’m allowed to comment? And what if I don’t want to give you my email? You have no privacy policy on this website? How’d do I know you’re not just going to sell it on?
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Ahh haa – your script looks for angled brackets, if it find them – it drops them. Back to the drawing bored I think Mr Skip
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That would a wordpress/akismet thing, I can’t lay claim to it :)
Whilst it does seem silly, I think the thinking is to stop keyloggers from getting user’s keystrokes. Taking belt and braces to ridiculous extremes though – I’m sure there’s better ways of doing it…