manualoften

Manualoften is a term used in user experience and human–computer interaction to describe a pattern in which users perform frequent manual actions within an otherwise automated or digital workflow. It denotes the persistence of hands-on input—such as button presses, form filling, or physical interactions—despite existing automation that could handle parts of the task.

The term is a portmanteau of manual and often, and has appeared in design literature and conference discussions since the late 2010s. It is not a formal standard, but a heuristic used to characterize user behavior and system design.

As a concept, manualoften is used to evaluate interfaces and processes. Researchers track manual touches per task, measure completion time with and without automation, and identify points where automation fails or is not trusted. It informs design decisions aimed at reducing unnecessary manual steps or, conversely, designing explicit manual controls for critical operations.

It intersects with automation bias, left-to-right automation, and human-in-the-loop design. Critics argue that manualoften can be context-dependent and may reflect user expectations, interface clarity, or the maturity of automation rather than intrinsic design flaws. Related terms include automation bias and human-in-the-loop design.

Examples include document processing apps where users repeatedly adjust auto-generated summaries, or industrial settings where operators must routinely confirm automated sensor readings. In such cases, reducing manual interactions without sacrificing control is a common design goal. See also automation bias and human-in-the-loop design.