mozilla/browserid — Issue #855: first time sign-in dialog provides confusing copy/labels with sign-in vs. new password
Author: tantek
Created: 2012-01-10 00:47:29+00:00
State: open

When using BrowserID for the first time to attempt to sign-into Mozillians.org with an existing account email, the dialog provided (see link) is sufficiently confusing that I don't know what is expected, nor am I comfortable proceeding (not knowing what is going on)

Screenshot of confusing dialog:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6670209021_e64faea211_o.png

The text "Finish *signing into*" [*emphasis* mine] makes it sound like I just need to enter my old mozillians password.

However, the form label reads "New Password"

which results in cognitive dissonance.

A "sign-in" form sets the expectation of the user entering in an *old* existing password.

So when you see "New Password" - it's like huh?

Why a new password, what was wrong with my old password?

Is this a new password for something else?

Am I entering a new password for mozillians.org (as it looks like from the form labeling "signing into: mozillians.org") ?

Or am I creating a new password for BrowserID? Or BrowserID.org?

Tried clicking the "Need Help?" link in the lower right of the page and it did not answer any of these questions nor point to an FAQ for any of them. The "Need Help?" link appears to go to a generic BrowserID marketing page (that might be a more appropriate for a "Learn more about BrowserID" link, not a "Help" link).

So I'm truly confused as to what to enter, and not having access to the old login flow, I don't know how to proceed.

From my user perspective, the relying party (mozillians.org) that I had an existing account with just "broke".