Entering and reviewing long number sets
One of the most regular problems I experience as a user is having to double-check if the long number that I've just entered in the field is correct.
In most instances the input field contains tiny little digits squashed together, so comparing the entered number with what I have on paper is very cumbersome.
Usually it happens while entering my credit card number in the online transaction or making a bank transfer and inputting a long IBAN number from the paper invoice.
Example is below. Now, try to quickly check if what you've entered is correct. Hard, isn't it?
Since I think, it's not just me having this problem regularly, I thought how to fix it so that comparing numbers of the screen, with numbers on paper is much much quicker.
1. Simplest way is to make the field in question much larger with XXXL digits, while keeping other fields regular size.
2. Other way is having all fields regular size as the page loads, but next to the bank account number field, put a small A+ icon. Clicking it, would quickly magnify the digits within that field.
3. On rare occasions, banks, merchants or payment gateways decide to break up the field into subsections, either by displaying separate fields (as per below) or forcing a space between every fourth digit as the user enters the number.
4. Lastly, we could adopt an iPhone solution and give users a little magnyfing glass as they hover their mouse over the field. It would simply magnify the digits in sets of two, hence giving you quicker tool for comparing the numbers. (as per the first image).
All in all. Problem isn't particularly hard to fix, so I wonder why banks don't bother fixing it. Don't they usability test their users?
Such a tiny thing, but surely would make millions of users happier, or at least less frustrated.
