Remember the alert about the incoming missile in Hawaii that turned out to be nonsense? This <https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/01/the-interface-to-send-out-a-missile-alert-in-hawaii-is-as-expected-quite-bad/> is apparently what the user interface looks like for the system that sends out both test and genuine alerts. It looks like a web page with a random assortment of links.
Just off the top of my head, not claiming to be a UI expert here, but I would have a big title across the top of the screen saying either “TEST MODE” or “LIVE MODE” (the latter red, and blinking). Then have a single set of options below, appropriate to the active mode.
Even go one better, and do what Japanese railway locomotive drivers do as they see signs at the side of the track: say out loud what the signs mean, before taking appropriate action.
Interesting update: 'A false ballistic missile alert in Hawaii was sent on January 13 because an emergency worker believed there really was a missile threat, according to a preliminary investigation by The Federal Communications Commission. From a report: The report finds that the false alert was not the result of a worker choosing the wrong alert by accident from a drop-down menu, but rather because the worker misunderstood a drill as a true emergency. The drill incorrectly included the language "This is not a drill."' -- source: https://news.slashdot.org/story/18/01/30/181234 Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann Dept. of Computer Science University of Waikato, NZ +64 (7) 858-5174 http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ http://www.data-mining.co.nz/