Planner UI Enhancements: A Discussion On Improving User Experience

In this article, we will dive into a discussion surrounding potential user interface (UI) upgrades for the Planner application, inspired by suggestions from the swent-2025-team03 project. These enhancements aim to refine the user experience, making the Planner more intuitive and efficient. Let's explore the proposed improvements, covering aspects from the '+' icon behavior to lane title display and duration input methods.

Enhancing the '+' Icon Functionality

The functionality of the '+' icon in the Planner UI needs refinement to better reflect its purpose. Currently positioned at the bottom right, the '+' icon serves dual roles: adding a new start time to a report and modifying an existing report. This ambiguity can lead to user confusion. To address this, it's suggested that the '+' icon should exclusively represent the addition of a new start time. When modifying a report with an existing start time, the icon should transform into a crayon or another more fitting symbol. This visual distinction would instantly communicate the action the user is about to perform, reducing errors and enhancing the overall user experience.

Implementing this change requires careful consideration of icon selection. The new icon for modifying reports should be easily recognizable and distinct from the '+' icon. It should also align with the overall design language of the Planner application. Furthermore, the transition between the two icons should be smooth and intuitive, providing users with clear feedback on their actions. By implementing this enhancement, the Planner UI would become more user-friendly, reducing the cognitive load on users and improving their efficiency.

Moreover, the behavior of the '+' icon should be consistent across different platforms and devices. Whether users are accessing the Planner application on a desktop computer, a tablet, or a smartphone, the icon should function in the same way. This consistency would ensure a seamless user experience, regardless of the device being used. Additionally, the tooltips or labels associated with the '+' icon should be clear and concise, providing users with additional information about its purpose. By addressing these details, the Planner UI can be further optimized for usability and efficiency.

Highlighting Edited Reports for Clarity

Improving the visibility of edited reports within the Planner UI is crucial for enhancing user orientation and reducing errors. When a user edits a report with an existing start time, it's often not immediately apparent which report is being modified. This lack of visual feedback can lead to confusion, especially when dealing with multiple reports. To address this, it's proposed that the edited report should be highlighted in some way. This could be achieved through various visual cues, such as changing the background color, adding a border, or using a subtle animation. The goal is to make it instantly clear to the user which report is currently being modified.

The implementation of this highlighting feature requires careful consideration of the visual design. The highlighting should be subtle enough not to be distracting, yet prominent enough to be easily noticeable. The color or animation used should also align with the overall design language of the Planner application. Furthermore, the highlighting should be applied consistently across different platforms and devices. Whether users are accessing the Planner application on a desktop computer, a tablet, or a smartphone, the edited report should be highlighted in the same way.

In addition to visual highlighting, it may also be beneficial to provide additional contextual information about the edited report. This could include displaying the report's start time, duration, or other relevant details. This information could be displayed in a tooltip or a small pop-up window. By providing this additional context, users can quickly verify that they are editing the correct report. Moreover, the highlighting feature should be easily customizable, allowing users to choose the visual cue that works best for them. By addressing these details, the Planner UI can be further optimized for usability and efficiency.

Optimizing Lane Titles for Better Readability

When dealing with multiple lanes in the Planner UI, the truncation of lane titles can pose a significant usability challenge. This issue is particularly pronounced for short reports that last an hour or less, where the limited space exacerbates the problem. To address this, it's proposed that the title size should be reduced, and the description should be removed if the title does not fit. This approach would prioritize the visibility of the title, ensuring that users can quickly identify the content of each lane. While this may require a trade-off in terms of information density, it's argued that the improved readability of the titles outweighs the loss of the description.

Implementing this change requires careful consideration of the font sizes and layout of the lane titles. The reduced font size should be legible without being too small to read comfortably. The decision to remove the description should be based on a clear criterion, such as the length of the title or the available space. Additionally, it may be beneficial to provide a tooltip that displays the full title and description when the user hovers over the lane. This would allow users to access the full information when needed, without cluttering the UI.

Moreover, the optimization of lane titles should be responsive to different screen sizes and resolutions. The Planner UI should automatically adjust the font size and layout of the titles to ensure optimal readability on different devices. This may involve using different font sizes, line breaks, or even completely hiding the description on smaller screens. By addressing these details, the Planner UI can be further optimized for usability and accessibility. In addition, consider using icons or abbreviations to represent common report types, freeing up space for the title. This visual approach can enhance scannability and improve the overall user experience.

Re-evaluating the Duration Input Method

The current method for inputting the duration of reports in the Planner UI relies on the time picker component. However, this approach is not entirely intuitive, as the duration is not a time in the traditional sense. While the time picker allows users to specify the start and end times of a report, it doesn't directly represent the duration as a discrete value. To address this, it's proposed that a different component should be used for inputting the duration. This could be a numerical input field with units (e.g., minutes, hours), a slider, or a custom component designed specifically for this purpose.

Implementing this change requires careful consideration of the user experience. The new component should be easy to use and understand, even for users who are not familiar with the Planner application. It should also provide clear feedback on the entered duration, such as displaying the equivalent time range. Furthermore, the new component should be accessible to users with disabilities. This may involve providing keyboard navigation, screen reader support, and sufficient color contrast. While implementing a new component may require a significant investment of time and resources, it's argued that the improved usability and intuitiveness would be worth the effort.

However, before embarking on a major redesign of the duration input method, it's important to carefully weigh the benefits against the costs. A thorough user testing should be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of different input methods. The feedback from these tests can then be used to inform the design and implementation of the new component. Moreover, it's important to consider the impact on existing users who are already familiar with the time picker. The transition to the new component should be smooth and seamless, minimizing disruption to their workflow. By carefully considering these factors, the Planner UI can be improved without sacrificing usability or accessibility.

In conclusion, the proposed UI upgrades for the Planner application offer valuable opportunities to enhance user experience and improve efficiency. By refining the functionality of the '+' icon, highlighting edited reports, optimizing lane titles, and re-evaluating the duration input method, the Planner can become more intuitive and user-friendly. While implementing these changes may require careful consideration of design, accessibility, and compatibility, the potential benefits are significant. By prioritizing user needs and focusing on continuous improvement, the Planner can remain a valuable tool for project management and planning.

For additional information on UI/UX design principles, you can check out the Usability.gov website. This resource provides comprehensive guidelines and best practices for creating user-centered designs.