Daily Archives: January 27, 2025

Best Practices for Designing Toggle Controls on the Web

Toggle is a verb meaning “switch or alternate.” We use it to talk about switching between different settings, apps, or screens on a mobile device. It’s also a term used in software to describe the process of hiding and showing features to users. But when used on the web, toggles can be confusing and lead to user frustration. They’re easy to miss, and the visual cues they use can make them hard to understand.

This is partly because toggles don’t resemble the physical switches we’re all familiar with from our desktop hardware or even phones and tablets. They look more like sliders, and we’re used to using them for tasks that involve scrolling. That’s why it’s important to make them as visible as possible—and that means incorporating visual cues like movement and color. Ideally, they should resemble sliding controls. In addition, it’s crucial to ensure that toggles are cognitively OK. They’re simple enough to use, but the lack of a mutually exclusive state (on and off) can cause confusion. Designers often add colors to help users distinguish the current state, but WCAG advises against relying solely on color to convey meaning.

A good way to prevent this confusion is by making sure that the toggle has a clear name and context to explain what it does. The name should be clearly displayed, and should include both the label and the current state (on or off). A name also makes it easier for developers to debug and understand why a toggle has changed states.

Then, designers should use high-contrast colors to signal a change in state. In addition, they should evaluate societal and cultural contexts—using red, for instance, might not be a great idea for an audience who associates it with stop signs or traffic signals. Finally, they should also consider the nuances of accessibility. Many people rely on screen readers and other assistive technologies to read the content of web pages, and it’s important for toggles to be accessible for them as well.

Ultimately, the goal of a toggle is to let users easily control what they’re seeing and do in an app or website. By implementing best practices and avoiding pitfalls, designers can create toggles that make it easier for users to interact with their product and achieve their goals.

Toggle is a digital trade magazine that explores the vital role technology plays in companies and organizations across the spectrum of industry, and the men and women who make it work. From data privacy and cybersecurity to cloud solutions and emerging applications, we dive into the unique challenges these leaders face on a daily basis.

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Slots – How and Why Do People Enjoy Playing Slots?

A slot is a narrow opening, like a hole or groove that something fits into. The term is also used for a position or place in a series, group, or sequence (he was “slotted” into the first available chair).

In a slot machine, players pull a handle to spin a reel and watch the symbols appear on each stop. When a winning combination appears, the player receives a payout. A winning combination is determined by the number of matching symbols on a pay line, which runs horizontally across the center of the reels.

Slots are a game of chance and have been popular with players since their inception. The original mechanical designs required players to insert coins or paper tickets, and a lever that triggered the spinning of the reels. Today, slot machines are largely computerized and offer more features than ever. While the technology has changed, the basic principles remain the same.

Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran, you’ll find that there are many different types of slots games to choose from. Some have bonus features and free spins, while others have a storyline that unfolds during gameplay. Some even have a progressive jackpot that increases the more you play!

While casinos would love to increase the house edge on all of their slot games, this could backfire and actually drive away players. This is why they try to hide increases in the house advantage behind changes in the volatility of their games. A volatility increase is a subtle change in the likelihood of winning, and it can be difficult for players to detect.

In addition to its entertainment value, gambling is often a form of escapism for some individuals. While most people gamble as a form of harmless entertainment, a small subset experiences severe gambling problems that can lead to financial difficulties, family and professional troubles, and addiction. In this regard, understanding how and why people enjoy playing slots is essential for developing effective gambling interventions.

Our study aims to shed light on the role of dark flow and reward reactivity in slots enjoyment. We use psychophysiological measures of arousal and enjoyment – PRP and force as a function of win size – that are non-invasive and require minimal participant effort to administer. These measures differ from other psychophysiological measures that involve cumbersome electrodes and wires, which reduce ecological validity and may inhibit flow.

After a slot game is released to the public, it’s important for businesses to market it. This can be done through social media, TV ads, and other channels. A good marketing strategy will help customers find the slot game and keep them engaged in it. To maintain interest, it’s also important to update the game regularly with new features and rewards. A great way to do this is through a minimum viable product (MVP). An MVP is an early version of a slot game that includes key elements of the final design but lacks details.