The control paradox is about the operators' capability to control situations unfamiliar to them. Often, the operators do not recognize that the situation is new to them. If they are aware of it, they need time understand the reasons for the exceptional situation, and to learn how to proceed. Yet, we expect the operator to recognize and understand the new situation, to understand the implications of the various options about how to proceed, and to respond immediately, and properly.
Suppose that a computer program identifies that an operator's command is exceptional. The common design practice is to present a dialog box, asking the operator to confirm that the last command was intentional. This dialog box is perceived as a warning about the consequences of doing the wrong thing.
In typical software programs, the dialog box does not include all the information required for intelligent decision making:
Updated on 20 Dec 2016.