1. FITC Unconference @
UX Concerns across Mobile Platforms
Joseph Labrecque
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.

2. Introduction FITC @
Joseph Labrecque, MA
University of Denver - CTL
Senior Interactive Software Engineer
Adjunct Faculty
Fractured Vision Media, LLC
Proprietor
Adobe Community Professional
Adobe Education Leader
What’s New in
Flash Player 11
What’s New in
Adobe AIR 3
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 2

3. What We’ll Talk About FITC @
Desktop User Expectations
Desktop Experiences
How Mobile UX is Different
Concerns Across Platforms
Apple iOS!
Google Android!
Blackberry Tablet OS!
Why Adhere to Existing Paradigms?
When to Deviate from Existing Paradigms?
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 3

4. Who This Talk is For FITC @
Q: Are you a seasoned mobile
designer or developer? ?
A: Yeah? You should probably just
leave now… unless you just want to
hear me blabber.
Q: Interested in my perspective on
mobile UX across platforms?
A: Mmm… perfect.
Q: Are you simply mobile-curious?
A: Yes? Cool- stick around.
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 4

5. Desktop User Expectations FITC @
My normal setup: dual 1680 x 1050 displays
Lots of applications opened simultaneously
Uber-Multitasking!
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 5

6. Windows vs. Mac vs. Linux FITC @
Example: Adobe AIR
AIR allows developers to build desktop
applications which can run on Windows,
OSX, and Linux.
This fact caused a stir among platform-
specific UI purists as application interface
controls could take on a variety of forms
due to the open nature of Flash UI design.
Any experience, if done well, does not
necessarily need to conform strictly to any
specific guidelines.
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 6

7. Mobile UX is Different FITC @
Users generally have very small
screens and therefore not a lot of
room to work with.
Applications take up the entire
screen.
The user’s full attention is directed
toward the running application.
You are guaranteed a captive
audience, barring any disturbances.
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8. Screen Paradigm FITC @
The fact that an application will fill
the entire screen during the entire
duration of an interaction is the
single most important consideration
for mobile UX.
Depending upon the platform, this
may mean that while an application
is active, additional applications
have been dismissed to the
background or closed entirely.
The user is always focused upon
one screen at a time, and methods
for navigating these screens are
often dependent upon whichever
operating system is in play.
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 8

9. Platform-Specific Hardware FITC @
Dedicated Buttons
iOS: one button.
Android: four buttons along the
bottom or side, which include a
home key, dedicated back
button, dedicated options menu
button, and search.
Tablet OS: a unique bezel
through which a variety of
gestures can be used, moving
beyond simple button presses.
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10. Touch and Gestures FITC @
Touch interfaces completely derail the
concept of a single, clicking arrow,
substituting fingertips, gestures, and
sensors for the simple mouse pointer.
This fact alone reshapes the entire
interactive landscape when considering
UX with these devices.
Touch and gestures are ancient and
powerful! Nothing new at all- the mouse
has been an imperfect deviation.
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 10

11. Cross-Platform Concerns FITC @
Menu Systems
Android: a dedicated menu button
built into the device that can be
programmed to reveal application
options, normally via a menu at the
bottom of the screen.
iOS: a button within the application
that allows the user to access
application-specific menus.
Tablet OS: a swipe from the top
bezel will pull down or dismiss a set
of menu options defined for any
given application.
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 11

12. Existing Paradigms FITC @
When users have become familiar
with a specific platform, they will
expect certain behaviors when
interacting with that device.
Deviating from an established
expectation can cause confusion for
the user and lead to a frustrating
experience, or even to total
abandonment of the application.
[image courtesy of GestureWorks]
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 12

13. The Urge to Deviate FITC @
Adhering to known user conventions is the
safest way to approach UX, but it may not
always be the best.
At times, it may be worth the risk of deviating
from the norm, either due to the uniqueness of
some application process, or because it better
establishes a connection with your user in a
tighter way than the standard paradigm
allows.
Example: http://www.swype.com
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 13

14. Last Thoughts FITC @
Learn what makes the device platform
different from others and to take advantage
of that.
Only deviate from established norms when
it benefits the user in some way by making
interactions better than they would be
otherwise.
Skinning your controls for each device,
while not always necessary, will add a
touch of polish and may go that extra little
bit to win a user’s appreciation.
[image courtesy of GestureWorks]
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 14

15. Questions? FITC @
Ask ‘em.
?
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 15

16. Get in Touch! FITC @
Joseph Labrecque, MA
University of Denver - CTL
Senior Interactive Software Engineer
Adjunct Faculty
Fractured Vision Media, LLC
Proprietor
EMAIL Joseph.Labrecque@du.edu
WEB http://josephlabrecque.com/
TWITTER @JosephLabrecque What’s New in
Flash Player 11
What’s New in
Adobe AIR 3
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 16

17. FITC Unconference @
© 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.