2. Progress, not Regress

Why were progress bars created?

To reassure users who did not know whether their computer had crashed or was still loading.

Who presented a paper on “percent-done progress indicators”?

Brad A. Myers.

What did Brad A. Myers study about progress bars?

He had 48 students perform database searches with and without progress bars.

What percentage of students liked progress bars in Brad Myers’ study?

86% of students preferred them.

Why do people like progress bars even when they are inaccurate?

They provide a sense of control and make users feel progress is happening.

What are placebo buttons?

Buttons that do not actually affect the outcome but make users feel they have control.

What is an example of a placebo button?

The pedestrian crossing button or traffic light button that does not actually change the timing.

Why do placebo buttons work psychologically?

People prefer to feel that their actions cause results rather than accept randomness.

What is an indeterminate progress bar?

A progress indicator that shows a task is happening but does not show how much has been completed.

What does an indeterminate progress bar communicate?

That the system is working, even without showing exact progress.

What is a splash screen?

A screen showing an app logo or branding while an application loads.

What is the purpose of a splash screen?

To improve aesthetics and strengthen brand identity.

Why can splash screens sometimes be harmful?

They can slow down loading instead of improving the experience.

What is console output?

Text-based status information from software showing results, bugs, and completion status to developers.

Why is console output important in software development?

It helps developers understand what programs are doing and identify problems.

What are skeleton screens?

Loading screens showing the layout of a website or app before actual content appears.

Why are skeleton screens called “skeleton” screens?

They show the structure of a page like a skeleton shows the structure of a body.

How can skeleton screens appear?

They can be animated, grayscale, or coloured.

What is a throbber?

An animated loading symbol showing that something is being processed.

What information does a throbber provide?

It shows that loading is happening but not how much progress has been made.

Why are throbbers cheap to run?

Their animations are usually simple loops requiring little processing.

Why do many US elevators have useless close buttons?

The doors close automatically, and the button often does not affect the timing.

Why do companies keep placebo elevator buttons?

They make users feel in control and satisfied.

What is another example of placebo buttons besides elevators?

Thermostats in some offices that do not actually adjust temperature.

Why might companies install fake thermostat controls?

To reduce complaints or prevent workers from constantly changing temperatures.

What does the article say about the human brain and randomness?

The brain often struggles to accept randomness and tries to find causes and effects.

What do superstitions show about human psychology?

People often create connections between unrelated events.

What problem did a Houston airport face?

Passengers complained about waiting too long for baggage.

How did the airport first try to solve baggage complaints?

They increased the number of baggage workers.

Why did increasing baggage workers not solve complaints completely?

The actual waiting time remained frustrating because passengers stood around.

What did the airport discover about passenger waiting time?

7 out of 8 minutes between leaving the gate and receiving baggage were spent standing still.

How did the airport reduce complaints?

They increased walking distance so passengers arrived when baggage was ready.

What lesson did the airport example show?

Unoccupied time feels longer than occupied time.

Why do video games use progress bars?

To encourage players to continue by showing progress and investment.

How do games reduce player abandonment for new players?

They provide quick rewards and immediate gratification.

What is the endowed progress effect?

When people are more likely to continue a task because they feel they have already invested time or effort.

How do games use the endowed progress effect?

They show players their progress, making them feel they have already invested too much to quit.

How do games usually structure rewards over time?

They provide quick rewards early, then slow progress while increasing the value of later rewards.

What type of progress indicator causes the lowest abandonment rates?

One that moves quickly at first and slows down later.

How do constant-speed progress bars compare to fast-then-slow progress bars?

They cause higher abandonment rates than fast-then-slow progress bars but lower rates than slow-then-fast bars.

What effect do prefilled progress bars have?

They can increase completion rates.

What ethical concern exists with progress indicators?

They can manipulate users into spending excessive time or money on software.

Why did Namco create a game for loading screens?

To make long loading times in games feel less frustrating.

When did Namco receive a patent for games on loading screens?

1995.

When did Namco’s loading screen patent expire?

2015.

Why did Namco add a minigame to Ridge Racer?

The developers were frustrated with long loading times.

What game appeared during Ridge Racer loading screens?

Galaxian.

Why was Galaxian included in Ridge Racer’s loading screen?

A team member helped create Galaxian and included it as a tribute to his former boss.

Why did Namco avoid suing companies that violated its loading screen patent?

They did not want to risk invalidating the patent.

Why does the article criticise Namco’s loading screen patent?

It argues the idea was useful but not novel or non-obvious enough to deserve a patent.

What are the requirements for a patent?

The invention must be novel and non-obvious.

How did Spec Ops: The Line use loading screens differently?

It used loading screens to comment on the player's actions and make them feel guilty.

How did Spec Ops: The Line loading screens change throughout the game?

They started as normal gameplay tips and later became direct moral criticism.

What is the Chrome dinosaur game?

A game that appears in Google Chrome when there is no internet connection.

When was the Chrome dinosaur game added?

2014.

Why does the Chrome dinosaur game feature a dinosaur?

It represents returning to the prehistoric age when the internet disappears.

What is the Chrome dinosaur game also known as?

Chrome Dino.

How many Chrome Dino games are played each month?

About 270 million.

Where are most Chrome Dino players located?

Countries with large populations and unreliable or expensive internet, such as India, Brazil, and Mexico.

How can you access Chrome Dino without losing internet?

By visiting chrome://dino.

What features were later added to Chrome Dino?

Pterodactyls, night mode, and anniversary birthday hats.

What happens after playing Chrome Dino for 17 million years?

The game reaches its maximum score.

Why is 17 million years significant in Chrome Dino?

It matches the approximate time the T-rex existed on Earth.

What was the Chrome Dino project called during development?

Project Bolan.

Why was Chrome Dino called Project Bolan?

It was named after Marc Bolan, the lead singer of the band T. Rex.

Why do some restaurants put games on tables?

To entertain children while they wait for food.

What problem exists with restaurant table games?

Some contain hidden fees or in-app purchases.

Why are hidden fees in restaurant games controversial?

Children may spend money without parents understanding or approving.

What have some US states done about restaurant game fees?

They require restaurants to disclose charges.

Why are disclosures not always enough?

Children may not tell parents about purchases.

What is the law in California regarding unauthorised child purchases?

Parents are not financially responsible if they did not authorise the purchase.

What is GDP?

The total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a country over a period of time.

Why is GDP limited as a progress indicator?

It does not show income distribution or quality of life.

What is GNI?

The total factor income earned by a nation's residents.

How is GNI calculated?

GDP plus income received from abroad minus income paid to foreigners.

Why is GNI useful?

It shows the total income available to a population.

Why is GNI still limited?

It does not show inequality or social well-being.

What is the Gini coefficient?

A measure of income, wealth, or consumption inequality.

Who developed the Gini coefficient?

Corrado Gini.

What does a lower Gini coefficient mean?

Greater equality.

Why can the Gini coefficient be misleading?

Countries with the same inequality level can have very different living standards.

What does the Gini coefficient ignore?

Non-monetary factors affecting quality of life.

What are factors of production?

Resources used to create goods and services.

What are examples of factor incomes?

Wages, rent, interest, and profit.

What is statistical dispersion?

A measure of how spread out data points are around a central value.

What is consumption inequality?

Inequality based on differences in consumption levels.

What does QoL mean?

Quality of Life, including health, comfort, and happiness.

What is the Human Development Index (HDI)?

A composite index measuring life expectancy, education, and GNI per capita.

Who developed the HDI?

Mahbub ul-Haq, a Pakistani economist.

What does a higher HDI score mean?

A higher level of human development, with scores closer to 1 being better.

Why is HDI considered more accurate than GDP?

It includes non-economic factors such as health and education.

What are the limitations of HDI?

It ignores inequality, education quality, human rights, and other important non-economic factors.

What factors make up HDI?

Life expectancy, education, and GNI per capita.

What are Multidimensional Poverty Indices (MPI)?

Indicators that measure poverty using factors such as income, health, and education.

What does a higher MPI value indicate?

A higher level of poverty in a population.

What advantage does MPI have over GDP?

It shows both how many people are poor and how severely poor they are.

What limitation does MPI have?

It may not capture inequalities within households and sometimes uses indirect measurements.

What is an example of a proxy indicator in MPI?

Years of schooling used as an estimate of educational capability.

What is labour productivity?

The amount of goods and services produced by workers over a period of time.

Why can higher labour productivity indicate progress?

It can increase total wealth and production.