Unclick Explained

In computer interface design, to unclick is to deselect a specific preference,[1] [2] typically by tapping a selected checkbox with a finger or cursor. As a result, the check mark image or dark circle inside the box is removed.

Background

As the Internet becomes an increasingly popular medium for marketers, vendors and marketers often presume that a user will prefer certain choices,[3] [4] such as receiving emails in the future, having specific computer settings, or preferring that specific programs will be operational when a computer is turned on. As a result, it is sometimes necessary for a user to unclick these choices[5] to avoid exposure to unwanted advertising,[6] or to avoid a situation in which a different website is chosen for one's home page.[7]

In Internet marketing, unclicking is often required for a user to avoid being billed automatically for unnecessary services, sometimes part of a deceptive business practice termed negative option billing. A user's Facebook privacy settings have often been chosen in advance by Facebook Inc., which presumes that a user would like particular settings, and to un-choose these options, a user may need to unclick or opt-out of the Facebook-determined choices by finding the right menus.[8] According to behavioral economics, computer and Internet users have a general tendency to go along with a default setting.

Other contexts

The term unclick has also been used in other contexts, such as when there is a latching or locking mechanism, such as a lock on a briefcase,[9] or seat belts in a car[10] [11] or airplane,[12] or door lock,[13] or other mechanisms which typically make a "clicking" sound. In these contexts, unclicking means to open the latch or seat belt. It has also been used in the context of guns, in which a safety catch is "unclicked",[14] or flooring materials in which pieces are interlocked,[15] The term has been used to describe the act of answering a cell phone by pressing on a button when it is ringing.[16]

Notes and References

  1. News: James Coates . Quickly make icons as pretty as a picture . Chicago Tribune . . August 27, 2001 . 2012-01-07.
  2. News: TARA SIEGEL BERNARD . MarketRiders Tweaks Its Investment Mix . The New York Times . . September 1, 2011 . 2012-01-04.
  3. News: JASON FRY . Thoughts on Kids and the Net: Readers Offer Thoughts on When Children Should Be Introduced to the Digital World . Wall Street Journal . . March 31, 2008 . 2012-01-07.
  4. News: Lee Dembart . the end user / A voice for the consumer : You, on radio . The New York Times . . August 26, 2002 . 2012-01-07.
  5. News: North American Precis Syndicate NJ.com . Steering Clear Of Deceptive Online Marketing . nj.com . . January 4, 2010 . 2012-01-04.
  6. News: Brian Bergstein, AP Technology Editor . How can I make my computer run faster, for free? . USA Today . . October 1, 2008 . 2012-01-04.
  7. News: Rob Freeman . Click Tips: Making XP look like Vista . BBC News . . 25 September 2007 . 2012-01-07.
  8. News: Shannon Montgomery, of The Canadian Press . Lawsuit says Facebook changes sold as making info secure had opposite effect . The Star . . July 2, 2010 . 2012-01-04.
  9. News: John Miller . Life Is Adventure: Postcards from Rio de Janeiro . Brazzil . . December 1998 . 2012-01-07.
  10. News: The Gazette (Montreal) . FJ Cruiser makes landfall . Canada.com . . April 19, 2006 . 2012-01-07.
  11. News: Cynthia Lee . New Jersey car seat laws: Which seat is best for your child? . The Star-Ledger . . October 14, 2011 . 2012-01-07.
  12. News: Ron Alexander . Metropolitan Diary . The New York Times . . December 18, 1991 . 2012-01-07.
  13. News: Burnaby Now . If the shoe fits: Christmas came early for the trio of Sandra McLellan, Sarah Dadey and Jason McLellan . canada.com . . April 28, 2009 . 2012-01-07.
  14. News: Arundhati Roy . Gandhi, but with guns: Part Five . The Guardian . . 26 March 2010 . 2012-01-07.
  15. News: Adele Evans . It's underfoot, but important: Floor: An upgrade can make a home distinctive, but choosing the right material and pattern doesn't come easy. . Baltimore Sun . . October 14, 2001 . 2012-01-07.
  16. News: Lynn Hirschberg . The Samaha Formula for Hollywood Success . The New York Times . . May 14, 2000 . 2012-01-07.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Unclick".

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