Control enabling means that the user can activate the controls even when the controls are irrelevant to the situation. On control activation, the system executes the function when it is relevant and otherwise provides Help information about the control functions and features.
By enabling irrelevant controls, users can learn about control functions and features regardless of the situation.
Users may need to scan all controls, even those irrelevant to the situation. At initial learning stages users may waste too much time learning the functions of controls irrelevant to the situation. In addition, even after they are more experienced, the users may be confused if the controls are not grayed out when they are irrelevant to the situation.
Updated on 29 Feb 2016.