Bug 399835

I just realized there's a bit of a problem with what I suggested - it wouldn't apply to people that need to use a virtual keyboard.

This means that we could have text that would alternate between something like "Start typing your password to unlock..." and "Move the cursor to get to the password prompt..." ... this would maybe be in the fashion of what Kickoff did with the machine info.

There could also just be something unified such as "Type, touch or move pointer to unlock", but then the tip to start typing the password immediately may go over people's head.

I agree that some kind of instructional text is needed here. It should be subtle though, so that people can still use the lock screen as a screensaver. And it probably needs to be smart enough to know that hardware configuration. "touch" wouldn't be an appropriate instruction for a desktop computer, for example.

>The user has to figure out on their own by method of trial and error that they can simply start typing their password.

Pressing any key isn't particularly strenuous trial and error and the first thing they'll do - and they only need to do it once. 

It's faster than reading any text.

I haven't seen anything to indicate this is a real world problem.

Well I can't claim it's a big deal and am also aware that the added text could be a visual nuisance. I can offer a theoretical argument that there is one most efficient way of unlocking the screen and that the user could be made aware of it. I imagine there may be people who never quite pick up on this, but this is just speculation.

I can also offer a bit of personal experience that as a former Windows I sometimes press Enter or do a left-click. 

But you are right in wanting to see if this is a real world problem, let's get some more insights. I will post a thread on reddit to gather some qualitative input on how users interact with the new lock screen.

I think even Windows presents the user with a "pretty picture with a clock" with no hint on what to do here on the lock screen.

Yep, from Windows 8 they have pretty much what we have now, but arguably worse because I think you can't just start typing your password or move your mouse to get to the prompt.

You know, I think David and Kai are right. Though intuitively it seems like we need some instructional text, David is correct and in real-world usage, I have not seen a single complaint about this. Let's re-evaluate if we get any.

I made this thread to investigate a bit: https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/

A whole day has passed since and out of all the users that submitted a valid answer (N=33 ), 17 (51,5%) of them simply type the password in immediately. 

Those who do not use various methods, such as: moving the mouse (N=5), using mixed methods (N=4), hitting space (N=3), hitting CTRL+ALT+DEL (N=1), hitting some button (N=1), hitting Enter (N=1)  and using an undisclosed prompt-inducing method (N=1).

Due to the fact it adds not one but two extra steps, hitting Space and Enter first may be seen as the worst outcomes of the 5.13 change. At this point, and related to the topic of experience with other lock screens, it's also good to remember the bug reporters for the Enter button behavior.

Some users are aware their behavior has been influenced by working with Windows, their answers pointing to the validity of the hypothesis that experience with different lock screen implementations can determine how users interact with Plasma's:
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7zdri7/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7xsga3/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7xzxk0/

In addition, some users explicitly stated they were not aware that you can just start typing the password prior to seeing the Reddit thread:
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7ydugo/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7yshsy/

Some suggested the implementation of a helping text themselves:
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7yjwxk/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7ydugo/

Sidenote: Some users have pointed out that the lock screen behavior with multiple monitors can be a bit confusing for them:
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7xsxh3/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7xn7h9/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7xlyn3/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7xpya9/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7zc9qb/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/9oyhtf/usersurvey_your_experience_with_the_new_lock/e7zdri7/

My general impression here is that no, people aren't having any serious issues because they do find a way to unlock the screen. Thus they are not really likely to complain, as well as because it looks good. Nonetheless, the sum total is that the 5.13 lock screen has most likely added an extra step or two for a non-negligibly large group of users.

I'd end this by saying this a small sample size so no hard conclusions can be made so what we make of it is important, but at the very least we should erase the observation that there isn't "anything to indicate this is a real world problem" from the board.  Also, there are some more interesting insights in the thread that I didn't cover here. What does everyone think?

adding a message to the lock screen telling you that you can, in fact, unlock it is imo a great idea :D

i mean sure, people can and do figure out how to use it, but the fact they have to figure it out means it's not as efficient as it can be (it's most definitely not faster than reading simple instructions off a screen, especially if you have to do it more than once, and get past one or more Login failed prompts)