Chapter 10. Polite Conversation

ALERTS, INTERRUPTIONS, AND UPDATES

APPS SHOULD BE GOOD LISTENERS. Tapworthy apps pay careful attention to touchscreen instructions and then dutifully deliver the requested info, gameplay, or action. Every so often, though, apps pipe up with commentary of their own: an alert warns something has gone wrong, a push notification announces a news headline, a progress bar says work is underway. There are lots of ways your app can get its message across, and the voice and method you choose has both practical and personal impact. Does your app shout or whisper? Does it interrupt the action or slip a subtle note? Etiquette matters, even to apps, and politesse requires careful thought about both words and manner.