Android Design Patterns: Interaction Design Solutions for Developers

Chapter 5

Welcome Experience

The first thing your customers see when they download and open your app is the welcome mat you roll out for them. Unfortunately, this welcome mat commonly contains unfriendly impediments to progress and engagement: End User License Agreements (EULAs), disclaimers, and sign-up forms. Like the overzealous zombie cross-breeds between lawyers and customs agents, these antipatterns require multiple forms to be filled out in triplicate, while keeping the customers from enjoying the app they have so laboriously invested time and flash memory space to download. This chapter exposes the culprits and suggests a few friendlier welcome strategies that keep the lawyer-custom agent crossbreed zombies at bay.

5.1 Antipattern: End User License Agreements (EULAs)

When customers open a mobile website, they can often engage immediately. Ironically, the same information accessed through apps frequently requires agreeing to various EULAs, often accompanied by ingenious strategies that force customers to slow down. EULAs are antipatterns.

When and Where It Shows Up

EULAs are typically shown to the customer when the application is first launched and before the person can use the app. Unfortunately, when they do show up, EULAs are also frequently accompanied by various interface devices designed to slow people down. Some EULAs require people to scroll or paginate to the end ...