We provide a number of examples of these 'programmerisms'. Error messages are the antithesis of proper application design. They are often ambiguous, rude, and all too often, incorrect, blaming the user for failures of the programmer. Tabbed Dialogs can be a wonderful solution for complex design problems. Here are some examples of a good idea gone bad.
Metaphors can greatly enhance the usability of applications when properly used.
When improperly applied, well, they can leave much to be desired. The globalization of applications provides fertile ground for discovering important user interface problems. We have provided a number of in-depth critiques of particularly problematic applications. We have assembled a short list of Recommended Books for those visitors who wish to delve more deeply into user interface design. More information on user interface design can be found in our Design Links section.