Start your IA with Mobile! How to target Multi-Platforms

Johann Richard Paris, 25. September 2010

The challenge: A web of complexity Unified IA and Interaction Design for multiple platforms

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The complexity of a growing ecosystem

For the user, it’s one

experience – and yet, it’s

happening on and with a

multitude of devices,

platforms, and interaction

styles.

Chances are high that

he’s interacting with 2-3

different platforms during

an entire experience.

Unified IA and Interaction Design for multiple platforms

One size fits all!? – Multi-dimensional issues The problem of increasingly complex IA and UX challenges

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Challenges in physical space Multi-Dimensional problem space

With the addition of new (mobile) devices,

we are facing new challenges in physical

space:

› A multitude of hugely different screen

sizes

› Different types of connection quality

and performance, including wireless

› The “touch” paradigm where the

user’s fingers replace the mouse

pointer as primary input device

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Challenges in time Multi-Dimensional problem space

The new (mobile) devices also introduce

new challenges in time:

› We see new use patterns – people

paying less attention, with dispersed

interactions and more interruptions

› Tasks are completed over longer

periods of time on different devices

› The individual experience changes

over time – from device to device

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Challenges in the social space Multi-Dimensional problem space

Who I Am

Personal

Social Connected

The new (mobile) devices finally

introduce new challenges in social space:

› They’re completely personal – always

and everywhere where I am

› They’re completely social – used to

share content both physically and

virtually

› They’re completely connected –

forming implicit and explicit social

networks

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“Context”, in some more detail Multi-Dimensional problem space

Who is with

me?

Social context

Where do I

come from?

Connected

Who am I?

Interaction

patterns

Where am I?

Spatial context

Where do I

want to go?

Goals and

Objectives

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And: The user doesn’t care. He wants it to work.

Multi-Dimensional problem space

The goal: A compelling experience – everywhere Accessible, usable and engaging applications on every platform

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So … how to tackle this problem?

The solution: Start your IA with mobile! Why “less” means “more”

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“A complex system that works is invariably

found to have evolved from a simple system

that worked. […] A complex system designed

from scratch never works and cannot be

made to work. You have to start over,

beginning with a working simple system.”

— John Gall

Embrace constraints Make the impossible happen …

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Simplicity is good: Constraints force proper thinking Embrace constraints

Proper thinking with mobile interaction

› Smaller chunks of information

› More guided

› Most important things first

It’s easier to combine multiple, simple

chunks of information (once you have

them) than to split complex information

into smaller chunks

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Proper thinking: Tables Embrace constraints

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Proper thinking: Forms Embrace constraints

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Proper thinking: A real world example Embrace constraints

Source: Luke Wroblewski

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Proper thinking: A real world example Embrace constraints

Source: Luke Wroblewski

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It’s not about compromise! Embrace constraints

Discover the very basic interactions

and functionality …

… and augment “per platform” with

things that make sense

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“Mobile” augmentation

Location, Sensors in

general (Picture, motion,

landscape vs. portrait etc.)

but also stuff like the

integrated address book,

calendar, e-mail capabilities

and the like.

Finally using ―augmented

reality‖ technology to beef

up the experience.

Embrace constraints

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“Web” augmentation Embrace constraints

Drag & Drop Rich, complete data display

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A general approach for embracing constraints

Activity Features Objects

Embrace constraints

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A general approach for embracing constraints

Activity Features Objects

Embrace constraints

The “Packing List” project A case study

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“Working together to plan a trip as a group

(goal) using shared packing lists to achieve

an efficient planning and provisioning of the

group as a whole but also as an individual

(activity).”

Goal and Main Activity

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Basic functionality / IA – (Social) Objects

› Group members

› Tour types

› Trip types

› Trips

› Packing lists

› Shared

› Non-shared

› List items

› Shared

› Non-shared

A trip planner for groups

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Basic functionality / IA – Example Features A trip planner for groups

› Sign-up / Login

› Creation & Access to packing lists

› Management of lists and individual

items

› Sharing & Invitation for peers

› Lists

› Items

› Comments

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General workflow: List management

The required functions and

information were divided in

the smallest possible,

meaningful chunks.

From these, an Axure

Prototype was built and

workflows defined and

refined with the customer.

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General workflow: Packlists A trip planner for groups

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What it became, eventually … A trip planner for groups

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Customer Understood ―mobile

first‖ really well

Process Practical and useful

End-users Really like the app

What’s good (and went well) A trip planner for groups

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What could be better A trip planner for groups

―Social‖ Make the experience

more social

Offline Support some kind of

offline mode

Sensors Use the sensors of the

mobile (Camera)

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“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find

simplicity; From discord find harmony; In

the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

- Albert Einstein

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3007 Bern

T: +41 31 560 12 12

F: +41 31 560 12 13

info@unic.com

www.unic.com

Unic AG

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Johann Richard

Head of Innovation,

Member Corporate Development

johann.richard@unic.com

Twitter: @johannrichard

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References

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About Unic

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Sources and Credits

1: aboutpixel.de Handytastatur © Dominik Sellmann

3: Manun, photocase.com

11: Nokia

13: sxc.hu / unknown

15: ―Bufalino‖, Cornelius Comanns

26: ―Chamonix‖, Thomas Senf / Mammut Sports Group

All App screens: Mammut Sports Group / Unic AG