Explaining Reductive Inputs

Application


Problem:

The user wants the system to respect their identity and not force them to conform to an identity that doesn't match their own simply to use the app. 

Example from Ada of a binary gender input requirement and follow-on explanation of why the limits are in place
By providing an explanation of why it requires a binary response, this health app acknowledges the identity of the individuals using it even when it has to limit them within the application.

Solution:

If the system does ask the user to provide a binary choice around identity—e.g. if a health app asks a user to choose between male and female—then the system explains why it necessary to reduce the options to only these choices, and qualifies what the implication of each is.

Discussion:

While ideally any app allows for the user to choose any gender, medical diagnosis normally requires a choice between binary male or female. The UI is not really the best place to discuss issues around the relationship between gender and sex and the social construction of both. Explaining the necessity of asking a reductive question in such a way as to make it clear that the system empathizes with the users concerns is tricky, yet it must try to do its best.