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Google Calendar's data-driven modal

G Suite is a collection of cloud-based computing productivity and collaborative tools that includes Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar, to name a few. Google Calendar is one of many digital calendars available today; its integration with G Suite makes it a popular calendar choice for personal and business users alike.

The point of a digital calendar is to help people better manage their time and keep track of life's important events. But a common problem that comes with the connectedness of the digital era is that people's work and personal time gets blurred. A calendar is arguably the best tool to help protect a person's free time, but time is needed for that person to set up the schedule to do so. This is a user problem that Google is helping to solve in two ways, with new functionality and automation.

Why this is really good UX:

  • Google continually improves its relationships with users by delivering “aha” moments at regular intervals. Providing new and unexpected value—as Google Calendar's working-hours function does, for example—strengthens user retention and brand loyalty.
  • Google capitalizes on the data they have available to estimate the user's working hours for a personalized experience. This approach saves the user time and effort, but it also makes the user feel special and connected to the service.
  • The copy is concise: The purpose and the explanation of the new functionality are delivered in two sentences. It's clear: The working hours are displayed in a list format for easy scanning. And it's practical: The user has the option to learn more about working hours, modify their hours, or choose not to set the hours. These three points, combined with the fresh and approachable tone of the “looks good” CTA, is a good example of effective UX writing.