Dynamic web widget examples please!

June 13, 2007 7:29 AM

Web usability gurus: I'm looking for a great example of web technology that takes a range input variables and demonstrates quickly what the outcome will be for the user. I'm thinking of something where you can dial up and down specific elements, and the output is shown immediately.

I'm really looking for a good analogy for a company I'm working with that sells a financial product online. There are some key variables that the user has to decide on which effect the final price of the product. Compound this with the fact that these variables are hard to understand for the user, and they probably need some guidance for what the "typical" answer would be and why.

So any web widgets combining dynamic variable adjustment with explanation, recommendation and clear visibility of impact would be great.

Thanks so much in advance Hivemind!

posted by mtstover to computers & internet (5 comments total)

Kuler color theme generator by Adobe (select "Create" from the left menu).
posted by uncle harold at 7:40 AM on June 13, 2007

I like bluenile.com's diamond selector widget. Diamonds have a bunch of different categories to base a decision on, and it filters down. I don't know if this is exactly what you're looking for, but it is a pretty cool sales engine.
posted by cschneid at 8:13 AM on June 13, 2007

I always liked this Java-based mortgage calculator for the fact that it responds immediately to inputs.
posted by knave at 8:43 AM on June 13, 2007

Two more:

Sidestep's flight search results allow the user to change variables on the fly and do dynamic filtering.
The New York Times' Rent vs. Buy Calculator also allows the user to change key variables and gives some defaults and explanations.
posted by kathryn at 9:14 AM on June 13, 2007

Mechanical supply store McMaster Carr doesn't do "live" feedback, but I really really like their system for drilling down from something very high level (search for, eg, "Aluminum") down to exactly what you want.

Compare to electrical supply company Digikey. Here's an example search for 555 timers. Whatever you do, don't make it like that.
posted by heresiarch at 10:11 AM on June 13, 2007