William H. Bowers – Designing for Embedded Systems Cooper 38

William H. Bowers – Topics General Design Principles General Design Principles Designing for Handhelds Designing for Handhelds Designing for Kiosks Designing for Kiosks Audible Interfaces Audible Interfaces

William H. Bowers – General Design Principles Don’t think of the product as a computer Don’t think of the product as a computer Integrate the hardware and software design Integrate the hardware and software design Design must be done within context Design must be done within context Use modes judiciously Use modes judiciously Limit the scope Limit the scope Balance navigation with display density Balance navigation with display density Minimize input complexity Minimize input complexity Customize for your platform Customize for your platform

William H. Bowers – Don’t Think Of The Product As A Computer Avoid the mental baggage of computer use Avoid the mental baggage of computer use Use domain appropriate terms Use domain appropriate terms Design specifically for the device Design specifically for the device

William H. Bowers – Integrate The Hardware And Software Design Hardware and software are closely intertwined Hardware and software are closely intertwined Software is based on hardware Software is based on hardware

William H. Bowers – Design Must Be Done Within Context Devices are frequently used in distracting environments Devices are frequently used in distracting environments Often handheld devices Often handheld devices Usually used in bright environments Usually used in bright environments

William H. Bowers – Use Modes Judiciously Displays are limited Displays are limited Users are often beginners Users are often beginners Avoid going into specific modes Avoid going into specific modes

William H. Bowers – Limit The Scope Most embedded systems are quite specific in scope and purpose Most embedded systems are quite specific in scope and purpose Avoid the temptation to make them too general purpose Avoid the temptation to make them too general purpose PDA’s can not substitute for PC’s PDA’s can not substitute for PC’s

William H. Bowers – Balance Navigation With Display Density Displays are limited in size and resolution Displays are limited in size and resolution Every pixel counts! Every pixel counts!

William H. Bowers – Minimize Input Complexity Text input is slow and inaccurate Text input is slow and inaccurate Soft (virtual) keyboards may be used sparingly Soft (virtual) keyboards may be used sparingly Pushbuttons and drop downs ease data entry Pushbuttons and drop downs ease data entry Drag and drop doesn’t usually work Drag and drop doesn’t usually work

William H. Bowers – Customize For Your Platform Generally not cross platform applications Generally not cross platform applications Be specific for the OS Be specific for the OS Use specifics to your advantage Use specifics to your advantage

William H. Bowers – Designing for Handhelds How is the device held? How is the device held? One or two handed operation? One or two handed operation? Satellite or standalone? Satellite or standalone? Avoid pluralized and pop-up windows Avoid pluralized and pop-up windows Minimize navigation by integrating functionality Minimize navigation by integrating functionality

William H. Bowers – Designing for Handhelds On-screen controls should be larger and brighter On-screen controls should be larger and brighter Use larger, sans-serif fonts Use larger, sans-serif fonts Don’t use dragging Don’t use dragging Don’t require shifting input modes Don’t require shifting input modes Clearly indicate the need to scroll or navigate Clearly indicate the need to scroll or navigate

William H. Bowers – Designing for Kiosks Large, colorful screens Large, colorful screens Adequate processor and memory Adequate processor and memory New, infrequent, single use customers New, infrequent, single use customers Limited input devices Limited input devices Operated in public – loud, bright Operated in public – loud, bright

William H. Bowers – Kiosk Posture and Navigation Transient posture Transient posture Large, colorful, engaging interfaces Large, colorful, engaging interfaces Clear mappings and controls Clear mappings and controls Simple, guided navigation Simple, guided navigation Allow easy return to start Allow easy return to start

William H. Bowers – Transaction vs. Exploration Transactional kiosks Transactional kiosks –ATM’s –Ticket machines –Vending machines Explorational kiosks Explorational kiosks –Museums –Mall or park directories

William H. Bowers – Kiosk Input Touch screens Touch screens Keypads Keypads Do not use virtual keyboards Do not use virtual keyboards Do not use drag and drop Do not use drag and drop

William H. Bowers – Audible Interfaces Telephone trees Telephone trees Organize in accordance with mental models Organize in accordance with mental models Use signposts Use signposts Provide one step back and return to top Provide one step back and return to top Allow for response time Allow for response time Provide means to talk to a person Provide means to talk to a person

William H. Bowers – Questions & Discussion