Designing Accessible & Usable Application User Interfaces for Mobile Phones

How many applications and screens are usable? How many screens are accessible? 1

Designing Accessible & Usable Application User Interfaces for Mobile Phones CSUN 2010 | San Diego, CA2

Session Topics • About Research In Motion (RIM) • About BlackBerry Accessibility • Why Mobile User Interface Design is Important • Top 10 Best Practices for Accessible & Usable Mobile User Interface Design • Questions, Information Resources 3

Session Scope • User Interface design, not development • Beginner to Intermediate UI designers • Mobile Applications and Mobile Web Sites • Agnostic, with BlackBerry examples • Universal Design & Accessibility 4

About Research In Motion (RIM)

About Research In Motion (1 of 2) • Leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions • Founded in 1984, based in Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA • 14,000 employees around the world • Listed on NASDAQ (RIMM) and TSX (RIM) 6

About Research In Motion (2 of 2) • BlackBerry Wireless Solution • BlackBerry Licensing Programs • Smartphone Product Line • BlackBerry Solution Services • Software Development Tools • BlackBerry Authentic Accessories 7

About BlackBerry Accessibility

About BlackBerry Accessibility “Access to wireless personal communications is critically important to people of all abilities. Research In Motion is committed to developing innovative BlackBerry solutions that empower our customers and improve the quality of their lives.” Mr. Robert Crow VP – Industry, Government, University Relations 9

About BlackBerry Accessibility • Team initiated in 2003 • Organized with Handheld Product Management • Focused on accessibility of BlackBerry smartphones and related products • Active participant within the disability community • Fund and participate in access research • Participate in review of related legislation 10

Why Mobile UI Design is important

Why Mobile UI Design is Important • Smartphones ≠ Desktop Computers • Smaller screen size • Different usage scenarios • Different use cases • Different input modalities • Smartphone users are mobile, and multitasking • Wide, and varied, group of smartphone users, including persons with disabilities 13

Top 10 Best Practices for Accessible & Usable Mobile User Interface Design

1. Use Native UI Components Description • Render screens using UI objects found in the native component set wherever possible/feasible Benefit • Shorter development time • Feel like a native app • Interoperate with Assistive Technology 15

2. Inherit Global Font Settings Description • Do not create absolute, application-specific font settings • Inherit system/user defined settings Benefit • ‘Look’ like a native app • Enable use by persons who may need specific settings 16

3. Manage Color & Contrast Usage Description • Maximize color contrast levels between background, foreground and adjacent UI objects (7:1 or greater) Benefit • Enable use in high glare scenarios • Enable use by persons with visual impairments 17

4. Manage Touch Target Sizes Description • Maximize interactive target and hit size parameters for use on touch screen devices Benefit • Increase accuracy of controls activation • Decrease task time • Enable use by persons with large fingers, multitaskers, stylus users 18

5. Align Interaction Methods Description • Enable your users to interact with your application in a way that is similar to existing platform interaction method Benefit • Decrease interaction discovery and learning • ‘Feel’ like a native application • Maximize user recall 19

6. Use Effective Error Messages Description • Provide users with explicit identification of the error, how to resolve, and prompt resolving action Benefit • Efficient error recovery • Minimized support • Enable use by customers with cognitive/intellectual difficulties 20

7. Leverage Multiple Modalities Description “You have • Communicate information in new mail” multiple presentation modalities (vibration, visual, auditory) Benefit • Enable one modality to reinforce another, maximizing recognition • Support use by the widest possible audience 21

8. Maintain Consistency Description • Provide customers with a consistent user experience across the application • Align with device conventions where possible Benefit • Decrease support calls • Improve utility of application • Decrease orientation time 22

9. Provide Multiple Ways Description • Support multiple information foraging methods and provide users with multiple ways to complete a task Benefit • Efficient error recovery • Decrease task time • Enable users to do more in less time 23

10. Get in the Wild! Description • Conduct formative and summative usability studies with prospective customers, including persons with disabilities Benefit • Learn user mental models • Identify opportunities for improvement • Improve application success 24

Questions? 25

Information Resources BlackBerry Accessibility Inquiries accessibility@rim.com BlackBerry Accessibility Web Page www.blackberry.com/accessibility BlackBerry Developer Zone www.blackberry.com/developer 26

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Designing Accessible & Usable Application User Interfaces for Mobile Phones

by Greg Fields on Apr 07, 2010

Accessibility

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Designing Accessible & Usable Application User Interfaces for Mobile Phones — Presentation Transcript