Make mobile Topic Containers easier for people to parse
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	• iamjessklein
	May 10 2022, 2:33 PM

Description

Problem:Usability testers struggled to understand the purpose of the Talk Page when the topics were collapsed by default.

Approaches

Approach #1: Expose one dropdown on all mobile talk pages by default.
- Considerations
  - Uncollapsing only one might just make it so that's the only section they think exist. via T308026#7917837.
  - The first section is usually the oldest and possibly least relevant. via T308026#7920714.

Approach #2: Expose one piece of metadata within collapsed Topic Container (e.g. date of last comment, number of comments, number of people in discussion)
- Details
  - Make it easier for people to parse the metadata within Topic Containers, and therefore understand them as representing discussions, by reducing the amount of metadata presented within them.

Approach #3: Show the first ___px of the conversation
- Details
  - Some kind of Show more affordance would need to be present so that people could expand/reveal the entirety of the discussion. See prototype: https://patchdemo.wmflabs.org/wikis/aed6d63dcecc14ee69aa3c7405c32c4c/w/index.php/Talk:Main_Page .

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Status	Subtype	Assigned	Task
Open		None	T317719 Ensure the Add Topic button and language menu appear in the same order on Wikipedia namespace pages
Open		None	T276497 Scale DiscussionTools to all projects
Open		None	T310959 Scale Usability Improvements to all projects
Resolved		matmarex	T310960 [Config Change] Make all DiscussionTools available by default at mediawiki.org
Open		None	T319146 [Release Ticket] Offer Usability Improvements as default-on feature at all projects (desktop)
Resolved		ppelberg	T318198 Two lines appear beneath H1 section headings when they are immediately followed by an H2
Resolved		Esanders	T319147 Suppress Topic Container section divider when section follows <h1>
Resolved	BUG REPORT	matmarex	T314714 Metadata and buttons should be inserted after a heading, not inside of it
Open		None	T302547 [Usability Improvements] Deploy as Beta Feature at all wikis (desktop)
Resolved		matmarex	T305286 Metadata within topic containers gets jumbled when switching between languages
Open		None	T296351 Ensure Topic Container design concepts meet accessibility guidelines
Resolved		• iamjessklein	T300071 [SPIKE] Devise strategy for evaluating accessibility of talk page Usability Improvements
Resolved		ppelberg	T282639 [Release ticket] Deploy Topic Containers as Beta Feature at Partner Wikis
Resolved		KieranMcCann	T310914 Implement Topic Container design adjustments (desktop + mobile)
Resolved		KieranMcCann	T308026 Make mobile Topic Containers easier for people to parse
Open		None	T304372 [Release ticket] Deploy Page Frame as Beta Feature at Partner Wikis
Open		None	T293524 Page Frame: Validate usability
Resolved		• iamjessklein	T293520 [Junior and Senior Contributors] Validate usability & usefulness of all Usability Improvements
Resolved		Esanders	T305655 Create prototypes for usability testing of Usability Improvements (desktop + mobile)
Resolved		• iamjessklein	T307401 [SPIKE] Review Usability Improvements Prototypes
Resolved		ppelberg	T307840 Run Test A (senior visits Junior's empty user talk) and synthesize feedback
Resolved		• iamjessklein	T307842 Run Test B (Senior visits Junior's empty user talk to share guidance) and synthesize findings
Resolved		matmarex	T309443 Horizontal scroll appears on add a link card when there's a long server name.
Resolved		• iamjessklein	T307843 Run Test C (Empty Article Talk) and synthesize findings
Resolved		• iamjessklein	T307845 Run Test D (a busy article talk page) and synthesize findings
Resolved		• iamjessklein	T307846 Run Test E (Senior User Talk Page) and Synthesize Findings
Resolved		ppelberg	T299115 [SPIKE] Decide whether to show the sticky header in the talk namespace
Resolved		Esanders	T299246 [SPIKE] Decide how and if to show the table of contents in the talk namespace
Resolved		matmarex	T303662 [SPIKE] Document script(s) talk page activity indicator might need to cope with
Invalid		None	T307642 [SPIKE] Decide on approach to inconsistencies between titles of talk pages and associated action pages
Resolved		ppelberg	T307727 [SPIKE] Decide on approach to potential differences in namespace and page title font heights
Resolved		ppelberg	T309422 Revise link text within last comment indicator
Resolved		matmarex	T309424 Add article icon-link to sticky header on talk pages
Resolved		EAkinloose	T309463 [Talk pages] Polish the design for the table of contents shown on talk pages
Resolved		ppelberg	T309890 Latest comment indicator does not update when a new comment/topic is published
Resolved		ppelberg	T307715 Align contentSub with page title
Resolved		ppelberg	T306675 Display the latest comment indicator next to the siteSub/contentSub messages
Resolved		matmarex	T307726 Add topic button should become disabled after click
Duplicate		KieranMcCann	T310968 Revise how talk page titles are styled
Resolved		ppelberg	T313636 Add space between talk page namespace and page title
Resolved		Whatamidoing-WMF	T306440 Add markup to article headings to distinguish between the namespace and the title
Resolved		matmarex	T317907 [Config Change] Enable Page Frame as beta feature at partner wikis (desktop)
Resolved		Ryasmeen	T303634 Adapt new ToC to help people understand and navigate pages that contain discussions
Duplicate		None	T305663 [SPIKE] Determine what additional work (if any) is required to adapt ToC for use on discussion pages
Resolved	BUG REPORT	nray	T305123 Showing Table of contents sometimes requires reload (Vector 22, wmf.5)
Resolved		ppelberg	T305576 [SPIKE] Define work to be done before discussion-specific ToC is production ready
Resolved		ppelberg	T306364 Define treatment for H3 and H4 topics in ToC on talk page
Resolved		Jdlrobson	T307251 [ToC] Show new/modified sections after publishing an edit (new floating ToC)
Resolved	BUG REPORT	matmarex	T307480 Modify VisualEditor to trigger a hook with sections data for table of contents re-rendering
Resolved		matmarex	T307823 Improve how ToC is rendered to allow adding discussion enhancements
Resolved		ppelberg	T313454 [SPIKE] Decide whether config is necessary to isolate Page Frame to desktop talk pages
Open		Whatamidoing-WMF	T323725 [Announcement] Make volunteers aware of Page Frame functionality being added to beta feature (desktop)
Resolved		ppelberg	T304371 [Release ticket] Deploy Clear Affordances as Beta Feature at Partner Wikis
Resolved		• iamjessklein	T299814 Create design concepts for clearer talking affordances and page frame
Duplicate		KieranMcCann	T309465 Introduce an "Add Topic" button that is noticeable and available regardless of where people are on a talk page
Duplicate		None	T304341 What to do for topic container / page frame enhancements without new-Vector/sticky-header
Resolved		Esanders	T309904 Revise Reply button appearance to make it less distracting on busy talk pages (desktop)
Resolved		ppelberg	T313453 [SPIKE] Decide whether config is necessary to isolate Clear Affordances to desktop talk pages
Resolved		Esanders	T314076 [Config Change] Make new Reply affordance styling available at mediawiki.org
Resolved		ppelberg	T314898 [SPIKE] Should a shared design pattern unify the appearance of talk page buttons' disabled states?
Resolved		DLynch	T315626 [Config Change] Add Clear Affordances to beta feature at partner wikis (desktop)
Resolved		Esanders	T314449 Reconsider the amount of whitespace between Topic Container and first comment (desktop)
Resolved		ppelberg	T315581 Topic Containers can cause a blank space to appear atop desktop talk pages
Resolved		Whatamidoing-WMF	T317717 Announce planned Clear Affordances (desktop) Beta Feature deployment at partner wikis
Resolved		matmarex	T316175 Make the mobile Add Topic button easier for people to access
Resolved		ppelberg	T312671 [Release Ticket] Deploy Topic Containers (desktop) as Beta Feature (Phase 1 wikis)
Resolved		Esanders	T312672 [Config Change] Enable Topic Containers as beta feature at Phase 1 wikis (desktop)
Resolved		Esanders	T313560 Ensure Topic Container metadata and section heading styling appear simultaneously
Resolved		Whatamidoing-WMF	T314624 Announce planned Topic Container (desktop) beta feature deployment in Tech/News
Resolved		nayoub	T312674 Revisit placement of "Subscribe" / "Unsubscribe" within Topic Containers (desktop)
Resolved		Whatamidoing-WMF	T312665 Define deployment phases for Usability Improvement (desktop) Beta Feature rollout
Resolved		ppelberg	T315624 [Release ticket] Deploy Topic Containers as Beta Feature at Phase 2 & 3 Wikis (desktop)
Resolved		DLynch	T315625 [Config Change] Enable Topic Containers as beta feature at Phase 2 wikis (desktop)
Resolved		ppelberg	T291676 Verify usability improvement are not "leaking"
Resolved		ppelberg	T280290 [SPIKE] Draft QA plan for topic container
Resolved		ppelberg	T299008 Publish summary of Topic Container design concepts feedback
Resolved		Whatamidoing-WMF	T317716 Announce planned Topic Containers (desktop) Beta Feature deployment at Phase 2 wikis
Resolved		matmarex	T318127 [Config Change] Enable Topic Containers as beta feature at Phase 3 wikis (desktop)
Resolved		ppelberg	T320682 [Release ticket] Deploy Clear Affordances as Beta Feature at Phase 1 Wikis
Resolved		matmarex	T320683 [Config Change] Add Clear Affordances to beta feature at Phase 1 wikis (desktop)
Resolved		ppelberg	T321955 [Config Change] Add Clear Affordances to beta feature at Phase 3 wikis (desktop)
Resolved		Whatamidoing-WMF	T321958 Announce addition of Clear Affordances to beta feature at Phase 2 wikis (desktop)
Resolved		DLynch	T323537 [Config Change] Add Clear Affordances (with arrow) to beta feature (desktop)
Resolved		nayoub	T320684 Converge on a revised Reply button style for languages where the word "reply" is short (desktop)
Resolved		Whatamidoing-WMF	T320685 Consult with volunteers about proposals for making desktop Reply button more legible
Resolved		ppelberg	T323726 [Release ticket] Add Page Frame to Beta Feature at Phase 1 wikis (desktop)
Resolved		matmarex	T323727 [Config Change] Enable Page Frame as beta feature at Phase 1 wikis (desktop)
Resolved		Whatamidoing-WMF	T327442 Announce addition of Page Frame features to beta feature (Phase 1 wikis, desktop)
Resolved		matmarex	T327456 [Config Change] Add Page Frame to beta feature at Phase 2 wikis (desktop)
Open		None	T327457 Announce Page Frame addition to beta features at Phase 2 wikis (desktop)
Open		VPuffetMichel	T314488 Revise the appearance of the sticky header's "Add topic" button (activated state)
Open		matmarex	T329407 [Config] Offer Usability Improvements as default-on features at partner wikis (desktop)
Open		matmarex	T331313 [Config Change] Enable Vector (2022) "Add topic" button at partner wikis
Resolved		ovasileva	T267444 Make the affordance(s) for adding a new topic easier to identify and access (Vector 2022)
Resolved		matmarex	T304187 Introduce button for starting new topics within sticky header
Open		DLynch	T330191 Instrument the revised "Add topic" button treatment
Resolved		ppelberg	T330196 Make the new "Add Topic" button capable of being deployed via a phased rollout
Open		Whatamidoing-WMF	T331314 Consult with volunteers at partner wikis about enabling the Vector (2022) "Add topic" button
Open		Whatamidoing-WMF	T329408 Host conversations with volunteers about Usability Improvements (desktop) default-on deployments
Open		None	T331489 [SPIKE] Finalize deployment strategy for default-on Usability Improvements (desktop)
Open		None	T302358 [A/B Test] Run an A/B test to evaluate impact of Usability Improvements
Open		None	T309406 Turn on sampling in the MobileWebUIActions and DesktopWebUI schemas at partner wikis
Resolved		ppelberg	T296357 Define the populations we will partner with on the Usability Improvements work
Resolved		ppelberg	T298271 [SPIKE] Determine mobile talk page usage volume needs
Open		None	T330938 Ensure the sampling rates of the DesktopWebUIActions and EditAttemptStep schemas are synchronized
Open		None	T332844 Publish proposal on mediawiki.org for how we will evaluate impact of Usability Improvements
Open		None	T332946 Identify wikis for participating in Usability Improvements A/B test (desktop)
Open		Whatamidoing-WMF	T332947 Run CentralNotice campaign inviting logged-in editors to try out Usability Improvements

Event Timeline

• iamjessklein created this task.May 10 2022, 2:33 PM

• iamjessklein mentioned this in T307840: Run Test A (senior visits Junior's empty user talk) and synthesize feedback.

Uncollapsing only one might just make it so that's the only section they think exist. I continue my staunch support for having everything uncollapsed by default!

Also the first section is usually the oldest and possibly least relevant.

We experimented with showing the first ~200px of the conversation with a "show more" in one of our prototypes in the past: https://patchdemo.wmflabs.org/wikis/aed6d63dcecc14ee69aa3c7405c32c4c/w/index.php/Talk:Main_Page

Esanders removed subscribers: • BKots-WMF, KieranMcCann, Jdforrester-WMF and 15 others.May 11 2022, 4:42 PM

ppelberg added a parent task: T282639: [Release ticket] Deploy Topic Containers as Beta Feature at Partner Wikis.May 31 2022, 10:00 PM

ppelberg renamed this task from Usability Problem: Consider having at least one dropdown on mobile expanded by default on Talk Pages with discussions. to Make mobile topic containers more obviously appear as representing discussions.May 31 2022, 10:07 PM

ppelberg updated the task description. (Show Details)

ppelberg updated the task description. (Show Details)May 31 2022, 10:16 PM

ppelberg renamed this task from Make mobile topic containers more obviously appear as representing discussions to Make mobile Topic Containers easier for people to parse.May 31 2022, 10:30 PM

ppelberg moved this task from Backlog to Triaged on the DiscussionTools board.Jun 2 2022, 3:33 PM

Uncollapsing only one might just make it so that's the only section they think exist.

Yes, that's what we found in testing.

I continue my staunch support for having everything uncollapsed by default!

The issue with this approach is that people will get lost in the entries on very long pages. With the collapsed approach folks are able to scan the items as a table of contents.

We experimented with showing the first ~200px of the conversation with a "show more" in one of our prototypes in the past

I like this approach combined with this iteration:

Topic container option 4.png (1×736 px, 137 KB)

• iamjessklein removed • iamjessklein as the assignee of this task.Jun 3 2022, 3:34 PM

• iamjessklein added a subscriber: KieranMcCann.

The latest patch implements the reduced metatdata: https://patchdemo.wmflabs.org/wikis/c7ed72eadd/w/index.php?title=Talk:DiscussionTools&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile

I think the padded cards help, although for the main content, any horizontal padding will make the content taller, as horizontal space is very limited, so we should bear that in mind and try to keep it minimal.

• iamjessklein mentioned this in T309459: Make latest comment indicator more discoverable .Jun 3 2022, 3:53 PM

ppelberg edited parent tasks, added: T298055: [RELEASE TICKET] Offer Mobile Usability Improvements and Topic Subscriptions at Partner Wikis; removed: T282639: [Release ticket] Deploy Topic Containers as Beta Feature at Partner Wikis.Jun 3 2022, 6:09 PM

VPuffetMichel edited projects, added Editing-team; removed Editing-team (Kanban Board).Jun 6 2022, 7:30 PM

VPuffetMichel moved this task from Kanban Board to Needs Discussion / Investigation on the Editing-team board.

ppelberg edited projects, added Editing-team (Kanban Board); removed Editing-team.Jun 6 2022, 10:51 PM

ppelberg assigned this task to KieranMcCann.Jun 7 2022, 11:10 PM

ppelberg moved this task from Incoming to Ready to Be Worked On on the Editing-team (Kanban Board) board.

ppelberg added a project: Goal.

ppelberg moved this task from Ready to Be Worked On to Doing on the Editing-team (Kanban Board) board.Jun 8 2022, 8:06 PM

ppelberg removed a parent task: T307840: Run Test A (senior visits Junior's empty user talk) and synthesize feedback.Jun 10 2022, 10:59 PM

ppelberg removed a parent task: T298055: [RELEASE TICKET] Offer Mobile Usability Improvements and Topic Subscriptions at Partner Wikis.Jun 17 2022, 6:10 PM

ppelberg added a parent task: T310914: Implement Topic Container design adjustments (desktop + mobile).