101 UX Principles

Chapter #34. Use Device-Native Input Features Where Possible

If you're using a smartphone or tablet to dial a telephone number, the device's built-in "Phone" app will have a large numeric keypad that won't force you to use a fiddly QWERTY keyboard for numeric entry.

Sadly, too often, we ask users to use the wrong input features in our products. By leveraging what's already there, we can turn painful form entry experiences into effortless interactions.

The iOS "picker" control replaces fiddly drop-down menus

Drop-downs should let users use the device's full-width picker control and numeric entry should show a numeric keypad. For example, you can achieve ...