Category — interface wireframe

Among the new announcements at the recently concluded Google’s I/O Developers conference was the next iteration of the Android OS, namely 2.2 (codenamed Froyo). Android has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception with a new market survey showing Android powered phones overtaking Apple in the US, the world’s biggest smartphone market. According to Google, the latest version of Android will be up to five times faster at running apps and three times faster at browsing due to the use of just-in-time Java compilers and the same V8 JavaScript engine as Chrome.

Froyo’s browser includes more HTML5 features, such as allowing the browser to access hardware features such as the accelerometer (to rotate the screen automatically), the microphone and the camera which can all now be accessed by web apps. What this means for interface design, interaction design and web development is that voice recognition comes to the fore as an extra input and control device. Google’s voice recognition and translation services are examples of how users may potentially use their voice to perform web searches, control their android phones or even change the channel on the, also newly announced, Google TV.

Integrative interface designs: Apple’s iPad model

Apple recently introduced its new iPad and proved that they understand how important integration is to simplicity and usability. The iPad functions like a combination of the OS system and the iPod. Apple was smart in realizing that two of its more popular programs could be a force to be reckoned with if they were combined. Combining the features of the iPod and OS operating system’s interface designs increases simplicity because the user is able to consolidate all his „Apple needs“ into one place. Apple’s new iPad shows that integrating extant interface designs not only vamps up usability through simplicity, but it also a produces a lucrative marketing strategy to promote a profitable product.

Simplicity works

Successful interface design relies on usability, and usability often relies on simplicity. If you want to create the most usable and therefore profitable interface design possible, keep in mind that simplicity often works. Gooogle and Apple understand that, and look where it has gotten them.

As the saying goes ‘if it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it’. When Microsoft released Office 2007 to succeed Office 2003, users were treated to a revolution in the popular office productivity suite’s interface design as some of the core handling patterns learned by using previous iterations of the Office no longer applied. The menu buttons and toolbars on the interface design of Office 2007 were a radical and unexpected departure. MS implemented its new Fluent User Interface design ‘Ribbon’ to replace the previous system of layered menus, toolbars, and task panes with a new system “optimized for efficiency and discoverability”. In many ways Office 2007 in comparison to its previous iteration was like Vista to Windows XP. Some users that had gained mastery of XP found themselves unable to do things on Vista they could easily do on XP. Even power users were stumped by Office 2007’s learning (or should I say re-learning) curve leading many to simply stick to their guns much in the same way many never felt compelled to upgrade to Vista. Some who upgraded to the 2007 iteration even used add-ons that simulated the classical menu user interface design.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg ended his silence about the recent privacy controversies in a letter to tech blogger Robert Scoble and via an op-ed piece in the Wall Street journal. Zuckerberg acknowledged that Facebook security features were too convoluted and stated that “in the coming weeks, [Facebook] will add privacy controls that are much simpler to use”.  In addition, Zuckerberg promises that Facebook users will be given a much easier method for opting out of all third party services.

Zuckerberg’s response was prompted by a tidal wave of fury about Facebook’s lack of easy-to-understand and easy-to-use privacy options in its interface design from users across the globe.  An initial security glitch, in which some users were able to view the private chats or messages of their friends, created a snowball effect among users as they also began to complain that Facebook’s interface design was a conveyor of confusing privacy policies and made their private data to easily available to third parties.  One of the main problems with Facebook’s interface design, according to many users, is that there are too many settings and the settings are anything but usable or clear in terms of allowing users to make their desired selections.

According to Webmonkey early builds of the new Firefox show that the latest iteration has picked up more than a trick or two from Google Chrome’s interface design. An example of this is through a new add-on manager that appears as an inline page rather than opening in a new panel or window. And just like with Chrome’s interface design tabs can be made to appear above the address bar. The similarities, however, end in aesthetics as Firefox 4.0 offers many unique technological selling points differentiating it from both Chrome and even earlier iterations of Firefox! With Microsoft already pulling out all the stops with the latest iteration of Internet Explorer, the announced IE 9, it will be interesting to watch how the next Chrome, Safari and Opera shape up in what continues to be a highly competitive, cutthroat market. The bigger winner here, of course, are the consumers.

Firefox has long been a big draw in the crowded web browser market even landing in the Guinness Book of World Records when iteration 3.0 became the most downloaded software in a 24 hour period after being downloaded over 8 million times in that period. Iteration 4.0 is slated to be released in November 2010 and it promises speed and a revamped interface design. According to the lead Firefox developer, Mike Beltzner, “Something UI designers have known for a long time is that the simpler an interface looks, the faster it will seem. The less the user has to take in with their eye, the quicker they can process it and the quicker the entire application will seem. So we’re actually looking at making our interface faster by changing the way it looks.”

Advances in speed are to be brought about by more than just offering a cleaner interface design with less clutter and GUI controls for the user to cope with. Navigation will also be improved via a “switch to tab” tool designed to better manage tabs by facilitating jumps between them and reducing their overall number. This in effect is done by adding further functionality to the Home button, allowing it to double as a kind of tab repository. Firefox 4.0 also embraces the powerful emergent HTML5 standard allowing for Geo-location and reducing the need for plug-in-based rich internet applications. This latest iteration will also support multi-touch technology, extentions that can install without the need to restart, and easier layout and styling with CSS3.

Facebook’s new privacy feature changes have many users in an uproar.  After embarking on the creation of a tutorial to help users  better understand these changes, The Electronic Frontier Foundation decided to inquire among Facebook and Twitter users alike, imploring them to find a catchy new term to describe social networking site faux pas’ and frustrations (The EFF did not explicitly refer to Facebook). Terms like “Confuser Interface Design”   “bait-and-phish” and “bait-and-click” were among the many tart ideas submitted by users. It was clear to the EFF that social networking site users were a little more that miffed.  But before you dismiss the masses of incensed Facebook users as “naïve” about the internet and privacy, make sure you understand what the anger is all about: interface design.

All users know the internet is not a private place.  Using social networking sites means you are on some level willing to make your life public, open for all to see. Naturally, there are risks associated with posting pictures of family, addresses, and telephone numbers on the web.  Facebook users are well aware of the hazards.  The real reason they are angry is because they perceive Facebook’s interface design to be tricking them into divulging or making public information they deem private.  For the sake of time, let’s look at one example of Facebook’s interface design involving partner sites.

Make usability the focal point of your eCommerce shop’s interface design

ECommerce shops with poor interface designs and hence poor usability frustrate consumers and often cause them to abandon their purchases in search of better alternatives.  One of the biggest usability problems facing eCommerce sites is the structure of the ordering process.  Many of the purchasing steps can be convoluted and ultimately confuse buyers.  If you want your eCommerce website to be profitable, then you must make it easy for shoppers to buy your products.  Here are a few tips that help you keep usability at the forefront of your eCommerce shop:

Break the ordering process up into small pieces: Simple steps increase usability. Dividing the ordering process into small pieces allows users to confront each aspect one step at a time. Make the steps logical, and follow by example.  Amazon.com, widely regarded as the world’s largest and most established eCommerce website, organizes the ordering process as follows:

1.    Login

2.    Choose delivery address

3.    Choose delivery options

4.    Enter payment details

5.    Review and submit order

•    Identify users with their e-mail address instead of a username: Email addresses are easier for users to remember when they login.  Usernames complicate the process for users, as there is a chance that they will not remember them.  Email addresses are also standard, meaning there are less special characters than in a username.  This makes is easier for you and the user.

•    Highlight required fields: Making it clear from the start even in the interface design what information users are required to provide augments usability.  Many users get frustrated when a form is constantly rejected due to missing critical information.  Highlight or bold the required fields to make things easier for your users.

If you want to ensure that the interface design of your eCommerce shop attracts and keeps customers, then you must make usability the driving force behind your interface design.  Vet out possible problems with your interface design by taking the time to conduct usability tests and evaluate user experience feedback. Though it may seem tedious, taking the time to thoroughly assess your eCommerce site’s usability will only increase the profitability and popularity of your shop.

A number of iPhone users who can’t do without Facebook were in for a rude awakening on Tuesday the 13th when some third-party Facebook apps were disabled without prior warning! Among those given the boot is the Emoti for Facebook app. According to an article on CNET, alleged copyright infringement seems to be the problem. Facebook has been wiping developers’ credentials from their system, which are necessary for third party apps to function. All Facebook developers are given a unique set of credentials that allow their apps to communicate with Facebook’s APIs.

Facebook holds that the use of the word Facebook in an app’s name constitutes copyright infringement. This is understandable but instead of erasing developers’ credentials, wouldn’t prior warning allowing offending parties to rectify their ways be an option? Another app to receive the persona non grata treatment is iLoader, which uses an ‘f’ in its icon.

Through prefab interface elements (e.g. radio buttons, links, navigation items, controls etc.) interface designers can create clickable and animated web or software interfaces just in seconds. Without any programming skills, interface designers can focus on the web concept and use cases, site structures and the overall layout of the site, instead of getting lost in details that only matter at a later stage of the project.