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What Is an Example of an Interface Error? One Tiny Mistake, Big Consequences

Defining Interface Error: Not Just a Techy Buzzword

Okay, so let’s clear this up. An interface error doesn’t mean your screen is broken or your app crashed randomly. It's when the communication between user and system fails, not because of hardware, but because of design, assumptions, or miscommunication between software modules, devices—or even humans and computers.

Basically, it's when something "works"—but not how people expect it to.

Classic Example: The Wrong “OK” Button

The ATM double confirmation fail

One infamous real-life example? A classic ATM confirmation error. You go to withdraw money, and the screen says:

“Do you want to cancel this transaction?”
And then the buttons underneath say:

  • Yes

  • Cancel

Wait. What? Which one’s the actual cancel?
You hesitate. Maybe even click the wrong one. Bam—transaction canceled, or worse, money deducted.

This is a user interface error: unclear wording, bad button labeling, and design that confuses instead of clarifying. It seems small, but in practice? Super frustrating. And totally avoidable.

Types of Interface Errors

Human-Computer Interface (HCI) Errors

These happen when a system miscommunicates with its user.

  • Poorly labeled icons

  • Ambiguous messages (“Error 500” with no explanation, anyone?)

  • Hidden or inconsistent navigation

It’s like when you’re trying to set a password and the error message says “Invalid” but doesn’t tell you why. Grrr.

Software Interface Errors (APIs & Systems)

This one’s more for devs. Let's say two modules communicate via an API, and Module A expects a date in format YYYY-MM-DD, but Module B sends MM/DD/YYYY.
Boom—system breaks. No crash, maybe, but wrong data, subtle bugs. Real pain to debug.

I’ve personally worked on a ticket where the backend was sending a float with comma separators, and the frontend JS parser totally misread it. Days of silent wrong calculations. All because of an interface mismatch.

How Interface Errors Impact Real Life

Medical software mistakes (yeah, scary stuff)

In hospitals, interface errors have been linked to medication overdoses due to confusing dropdowns or decimal inputs being misread (e.g., 5.0 vs 50). That’s not just bad UX—it’s dangerous.

Airplane cockpits

Pilots have made errors because of poorly labeled control panels or warning lights that didn't signal urgency. When milliseconds count, bad interface = bad outcome.

How to Prevent Interface Errors

1. Clear labeling and feedback

If a button deletes something, say it. Don’t just say "OK." Say “Delete permanently?” with a red icon.

2. Follow design standards

People are trained by habit. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Users expect the close button top-right, not hidden in a menu.

3. Testing with real users

This one's huge. Devs and designers aren't normal users. Sit someone down, let them click around. You’ll see quickly what breaks mentally, not just technically.

I once worked on a form where “Submit” was below the fold. Literally no one scrolled. We thought the page was fine—users thought it was broken. Oops.

Final Thoughts: It’s the Little Things That Break Big Stuff

So yeah, an interface error may sound nerdy and minor. But it’s often the difference between a smooth experience and a total facepalm.

Whether you're designing for the web, a mobile app, or a life-critical machine, remember:

It’s not enough for it to work. It has to make sense.

Because when the interface fails... everything else kinda crumbles with it.

How much height should a boy have to look attractive?

Well, fellas, worry no more, because a new study has revealed 5ft 8in is the ideal height for a man. Dating app Badoo has revealed the most right-swiped heights based on their users aged 18 to 30.

Is 172 cm good for a man?

Yes it is. Average height of male in India is 166.3 cm (i.e. 5 ft 5.5 inches) while for female it is 152.6 cm (i.e. 5 ft) approximately. So, as far as your question is concerned, aforesaid height is above average in both cases.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years)
14 Years112.0 lb. (50.8 kg)64.5" (163.8 cm)
15 Years123.5 lb. (56.02 kg)67.0" (170.1 cm)
16 Years134.0 lb. (60.78 kg)68.3" (173.4 cm)
17 Years142.0 lb. (64.41 kg)69.0" (175.2 cm)

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.