user-unctuous

jargon (By analogy with user-friendly and

user-obsequious) User-interfaces that attempt to soothe (or,

some would say, stupify) users instead of cooperating with

them. Common "features" of user-unctuous systems include:

icons of happy faces; mellow colors; melodic sound effects or

even mood music; help tips appearing unbidden and at unhelpful

moments; and a cloying tone either in system messages ("Oops!

I couldn't seem to find my old preferences file! I do think

I'll have to make a new one! Please press OK to continue!")

or in labelling of system components (such as the main hard

drive being labelled "Your Hard Drive" -- or, with infantile

pronoun-reversal, "My Hard Drive").

(1999-06-27)