Back to Details

progressive-disclosure

Compare original and translation side by side

🇺🇸

Original

English
🇨🇳

Translation

Chinese

Progressive Disclosure

Progressive Disclosure

Users don't understand what AI can do. Progressive disclosure is how you reveal capabilities at the right pace — preventing both overwhelm and underuse.
用户并不清楚AI能实现哪些功能。Progressive Disclosure是指以恰当的节奏逐步揭示AI的能力——既能避免用户感到不知所措，又能防止功能被闲置。

The Mental Model Gap

心智模型差距

Users arrive with mental models shaped by previous technology. They may:
  • Treat the AI like a search engine (keyword queries)
  • Treat it like a form (expecting rigid structure)
  • Underestimate what it can do (asking for less than it offers)
  • Overestimate what it can do (expecting perfection) Progressive disclosure bridges the gap between what users think the AI does and what it actually does.
用户带着受过往技术影响形成的心智模型使用产品，他们可能会：
  • 将AI当作搜索引擎（使用关键词查询）
  • 将AI当作表单（期望严格的结构）
  • 低估AI的能力（提出的需求低于其实际能提供的范围）
  • 高估AI的能力（期望完美的结果） Progressive Disclosure能够缩小用户对AI功能的认知与AI实际能力之间的差距。

Disclosure Strategies

披露策略

  • On-demand hints: Show capability suggestions contextually ("Did you know you can also ask me to...")
  • Escalating examples: Start with simple use cases, reveal complex ones as the user gains confidence
  • Feature graduation: Unlock advanced features after the user demonstrates comfort with basics
  • Contextual teaching: When the user attempts something inefficiently, show a better approach
  • Capability boundaries: Clearly communicate what the AI cannot do, not just what it can
  • 按需提示：结合上下文展示功能建议（例如：“你知道吗？你还可以让我……”）
  • 递进式示例：从简单用例开始，随着用户信心提升，逐步展示复杂用例
  • 功能进阶：当用户熟练掌握基础功能后，解锁高级功能
  • 情境化教学：当用户尝试以低效方式操作时，展示更优方案
  • 能力边界说明：清晰告知用户AI不能做什么，而不仅仅是能做什么

Layered Capability Revelation

分层能力揭示

Structure capabilities in layers:
  1. Surface layer: The most obvious, lowest-risk capabilities. Users discover these immediately.
  2. Intermediate layer: More powerful features revealed through tooltips, suggestions, or first-use prompts.
  3. Power layer: Advanced capabilities for experienced users — available but not promoted.
将AI能力分为不同层级：
  1. 表层：最直观、风险最低的能力，用户可立即发现
  2. 中间层：更强大的功能，通过提示框、建议或首次使用引导来揭示
  3. 核心层：面向资深用户的高级功能——可用但不主动推广

Pacing

节奏把控

  • Too fast: Users feel overwhelmed, ignore capabilities, or lose trust
  • Too slow: Users get bored, think the product is limited, churn
  • Just right: Each new capability feels like a natural next step
  • 过快：用户会感到不知所措，忽略功能或失去信任
  • 过慢：用户会感到乏味，认为产品功能有限，最终流失
  • 恰到好处：每一项新功能的推出都像是自然的下一步

Design Artefacts

设计产出物

  • Capability disclosure maps showing what's revealed when
  • Mental model progression diagrams
  • First-use experience flows with disclosure triggers
  • Capability tier definitions (surface, intermediate, power)
  • 展示不同阶段揭示内容的能力披露图谱
  • 心智模型演进图
  • 包含披露触发点的首次使用体验流程
  • 能力层级定义（表层、中间层、核心层）