Modal dialogs in web applications with script: remember the usability

Nowadays, there's tendency to create web applications that closely mimic the user interface conventions used already over 20 years in desktop applications, for instance in Windows. This is well and good, but often it seems the excitement of using new technology overrides thinking of the user interface and how it is used.

Say that you need to create a modal dialog box in your web applications. For instance, it might be photo editing application where the user can use such a dialog box to enter a picture caption. An example is shown here.

Yes, the example I pointed to is just an example. But it shows how easy it is to slip from the usability of applications: how would you cancel this dialog box if there is no Cancel button? By pressing Esc? Keyboard isn't probably enabled. Or, should you click outside the box? If you had written text, but accidentally clicked outside the box, would your changes be lost. In a word: frustrating.

The bottom line: think before you code. This applies to all kinds of applications, not just desktop, web or mobile. Using the latest technology isn't an excuse for bad UIs.