I was looking at an electronic Sudoku game my wife got for Christmas this year, and it struck me just how awful the user interface is. And if you think the interface is bad, you should try actually using it! I think there’s some not-subtle lessons I can learn from this as a software developer. I have no idea who makes this device, or what possessed them to try in the first place. But apparently they’ve made at least one sale, so kudo’s to them.

The top half of the device is a typical Sudoku grid. To the left is a closer view of the controls on the lower half. The first thing that stands out is that there is zero text except for the name of the game, and the difficulty levels. We are expected to either a) read an instruction manual, (not likely) — assuming we even have it — or b) guess what each button does by trial and error. Let me ask you when the last time was that you sat down and read a gadget’s instruction manual before even turning it on? No way! You rip the thing open, and start playing. While I recognize the need for instructions and manuals (systems are complicated, more often than not), a UI designer (and/or software developer) should work as hard as possible to enable a first-time user to enter the system and discover by exploring.

Given that’s what I did with this Sudoku game, the only buttons that I immediately understood were the directional arrows and the X (which cleared a square). Even a single word next to (or under) each button would make a world of difference. And I’m sorry, but what on earth is the book supposed to mean? Easy, Medium, Hard, and Scholarly? The button with four horizontal lines reminded me of something from the movie The Fifth Element, I was hopeful that pressing it would produce ultimate Love and banish evil forever, but nope, it actually didn’t even do anything (although I suppose it’s possible that at that moment in another universe a living meteor that was heading for earth simply “shut down” and I’ll never know).

All I have left to say is if you have this device, do not press the “Play” button during your game, because it instantly and irrevocably clears the board and starts a new game. <sigh> That was frustrating.