The future of mobile UX

improving mobile experiences for everyone

SparkUp 2010 - 25.05.2010

Antony, Co-founder, Ribot
first, some context...




               photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/remik78/3647335295/
Poles prefer the mobile web
  over newspapers
  AND THEY’RE THE HIGHEST MOBILE WEB USERS IN EUROPE!

Source: http://www.eiaa.net/news/eiaa-articles-details.asp?id=216&lang=1
a little bit about me
The mobile landscape
AS OF MAY 2010
Smartphone sales
The iPhone educated the masses
Wow, look at Symbian!
App store wars
 A GAME OF NUMBERS?




Source: Distimo
Android overtakes iPhone
 This is just the start...




Source: Distimo
onto some observations...




             photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/didmyself/3348346351/
Mobile is the primary method
  of accessing the internet
  IN SOUTH AFRICA. OTHER COUNTRIES WILL FOLLOW SUIT.

Source: ITU report




                           photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8628950@N06/2145430339/
Analogue to Digital to Human
INTERACTIONS




               photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/josefstuefer/18697485/
Who wants a challenge?
MOBILE UX DESIGNERS!




Pressure     Accelerometer        Time of day              Gesture

Microphone     Haptics   ...
                             photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunechaser/174945526
Constraints
Constraints of mobile
BUT WHICH IS MOST IMPORTANT?


form factor                    battery

network latency                context

input mechanism

memory

computational power
Context of use
understand the behaviours




             photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/didmyself/3099974216/
human behaviours


understand the behaviours

what finger do we use to press the
doorbell with?

                          http://www.flickr.com/photos/tscarlisle/107776922/
(changing) human behaviours


understand the behaviours


what finger does the younger market
press the doorbell with?

                        http://www.flickr.com/photos/phototropism/62931265/
Time for a snack...
DATA-SNACKING


small snippets of info

30-60 seconds

simple, but repetitive

regular
Re-use learnt behaviours
Re-use interactions inherent in the device

Minimise the number of surprises

soft key positions     colour

menu navigation        tone of voice



                        http://www.flickr.com/photos/8586443@N03/1491516038/
More than just a phone
WAKE UP CANON & NIKON




                        photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianjmatis/4149696324/
More than just a phone
 WAKE UP CANON & NIKON




Source: http://www.flickr.com/cameras/
mobile guidelines




             photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/didmyself/3348346873/
Mobile is not about making
things smaller

Miniaturisation   vs                 Mobilisation




http://mobilewebbook.com
                       http://www.flickr.com/photos/tridi_animeitor/2224661744/
Simpler interfaces are better
Minimise the subconscious questions

Balance efficiency, effectiveness & satisfaction

Improve glance-ability




                         photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lagiuspo/92136687/
Simpler != dumb
JUST REMEMBER TO FOCUS ON THE CORE FUNCTION



                          an eReader app
                          should focus on the
                          ‘reading experience’




                            photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lagiuspo/92136687/
Simple functional example
IT’S YOUR TURN TO MAKE THE TEA




                                 source: tea round iPhone app
Don’t forget the website
FOR MARKETING AND SUPPORT




                            photo source: tearoundapp.com
Complex interface
JUST REMEMBER TO FOCUS ON THE CORE FUNCTION


                            Too many elements

                            Poor information hierarchy

                            Functional uncertainty

                            Buttons generally far too small


             Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gruber/2635257578/
Make the most of your
platform
The native debate
WITH MOBILE WEB



Native                 Mobile web
Rich                   Functional

Rewrite                Tweak
All-you-can-eat APIs   Reduced function set
App store discovery    Web discovery
The blurred reality
BETWEEN NATIVE & MOBILE WEB




Hardware-accelerated CSS

Access to richer APIs

Offline storage

Chromeless experience
Native vs Mobile Web
The Facebook home screen
Native vs Mobile Web
The Facebook contact list
Native vs Mobile Web
TWITTER ON IPHONE
Native vs Mobile Web
Marbles^2 (by Remy Sharp) - Marbles2.com
Is it possible to make money
on the Mobile Web?




              photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_lin/3205617022
Flirtomatic
A MOBILE WEB SUCCESS




$15M rev,
$12 a mth
175k paying
customers
Apps are just posh bookmarks
IT’S ALL ABOUT SCREEN ESTATE




                           photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlotardani/3155442938
Think twice about your
audience
IT PAYS TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK



Analytics

Network provider

Device platforms

Devices

Firmware versions etc...

                           photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/155918164/
time for some stats
source: http://www.agribusinessonline.com/stats/




  Poland is the 3rd biggest
  exporter of cherries to the USA
  (DATA FROM 2003)




                                                   photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dudleycarr/3668145869
1 in 7 phones are returned
  BACK TO THE SUPPLIER


Source: 2005 Which report (UK study)




                                       photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andricongirl/4567650298/
Source: http://www.wdsglobal.com/news/whitepapers/20060717/MediaBulletinNFF.pdf




 63% of returned phones have
 no hardware/software faults
 SO, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?




 Handset configuration / settings issue


 Struggling with functionality / usability of device


 Device did not meet expectations



                                           photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_lin/3208454911/
Massive market for usable
  phones & apps
 YOU NEED TO DESIGN ‘INCLUSIVELY’




 By 2020, over half of the UK population will be > 65


 1 in 3 Europeans can benefit from an inclusive approach


 65% of americans have lost interest due to complexity

Source: http://www.btplc.com/inclusion/Usefuldownloads/index.htm#designs


             photo source: http://www.elmbrook.org/UserFiles/Image/Volunteer%20Opportunities/Elderly%20Hands.jpg
What happened to Microsoft?




             photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/didmyself/3099140737
Windows mobile is dead.
STOP. NOW!




Nasty

Broken App Store

Broken UX

Keep away...

                   photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective23/3677677277/
Windows
mobile

is dead.
Windows Mobile is dead.
Long live Windows Phone 7!
THE BAR IS ABOUT TO BE RAISED



UX comes first

OS built from scratch

Discoverability fixed

Focus on quality rather than quantity
Windows Mobile is dead.
Long live Windows Phone 7!
THE BAR IS ABOUT TO BE RAISED




                                photo source:
and to finish...
The little things count




Polish makes the UX and app stand out

                     photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_lin/3186488124/
Passion




“I haven’t worked in 3 years”

Be curious. Question everything
                           photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/taraethers/
thank you




            http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronlayters/2402199783/
dziękuję bardzo!




@ribot
            photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_t_in_dc/3526644413/

SparkUp 2010 Mobile UX 101

  • 1.
    The future ofmobile UX improving mobile experiences for everyone SparkUp 2010 - 25.05.2010 Antony, Co-founder, Ribot
  • 2.
    first, some context... photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/remik78/3647335295/
  • 3.
    Poles prefer themobile web over newspapers AND THEY’RE THE HIGHEST MOBILE WEB USERS IN EUROPE! Source: http://www.eiaa.net/news/eiaa-articles-details.asp?id=216&lang=1
  • 4.
    a little bitabout me
  • 5.
  • 6.
  • 7.
    The iPhone educatedthe masses Wow, look at Symbian!
  • 8.
    App store wars A GAME OF NUMBERS? Source: Distimo
  • 9.
    Android overtakes iPhone This is just the start... Source: Distimo
  • 10.
    onto some observations... photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/didmyself/3348346351/
  • 11.
    Mobile is theprimary method of accessing the internet IN SOUTH AFRICA. OTHER COUNTRIES WILL FOLLOW SUIT. Source: ITU report photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8628950@N06/2145430339/
  • 12.
    Analogue to Digitalto Human INTERACTIONS photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/josefstuefer/18697485/
  • 13.
    Who wants achallenge? MOBILE UX DESIGNERS! Pressure Accelerometer Time of day Gesture Microphone Haptics ... photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunechaser/174945526
  • 14.
  • 15.
    Constraints of mobile BUTWHICH IS MOST IMPORTANT? form factor battery network latency context input mechanism memory computational power
  • 16.
  • 17.
    understand the behaviours photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/didmyself/3099974216/
  • 18.
    human behaviours understand thebehaviours what finger do we use to press the doorbell with? http://www.flickr.com/photos/tscarlisle/107776922/
  • 19.
    (changing) human behaviours understandthe behaviours what finger does the younger market press the doorbell with? http://www.flickr.com/photos/phototropism/62931265/
  • 20.
    Time for asnack... DATA-SNACKING small snippets of info 30-60 seconds simple, but repetitive regular
  • 21.
    Re-use learnt behaviours Re-useinteractions inherent in the device Minimise the number of surprises soft key positions colour menu navigation tone of voice http://www.flickr.com/photos/8586443@N03/1491516038/
  • 22.
    More than justa phone WAKE UP CANON & NIKON photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianjmatis/4149696324/
  • 23.
    More than justa phone WAKE UP CANON & NIKON Source: http://www.flickr.com/cameras/
  • 24.
    mobile guidelines photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/didmyself/3348346873/
  • 25.
    Mobile is notabout making things smaller Miniaturisation vs Mobilisation http://mobilewebbook.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/tridi_animeitor/2224661744/
  • 26.
    Simpler interfaces arebetter Minimise the subconscious questions Balance efficiency, effectiveness & satisfaction Improve glance-ability photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lagiuspo/92136687/
  • 27.
    Simpler != dumb JUSTREMEMBER TO FOCUS ON THE CORE FUNCTION an eReader app should focus on the ‘reading experience’ photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lagiuspo/92136687/
  • 28.
    Simple functional example IT’SYOUR TURN TO MAKE THE TEA source: tea round iPhone app
  • 29.
    Don’t forget thewebsite FOR MARKETING AND SUPPORT photo source: tearoundapp.com
  • 30.
    Complex interface JUST REMEMBERTO FOCUS ON THE CORE FUNCTION Too many elements Poor information hierarchy Functional uncertainty Buttons generally far too small Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gruber/2635257578/
  • 31.
    Make the mostof your platform
  • 32.
    The native debate WITHMOBILE WEB Native Mobile web Rich Functional Rewrite Tweak All-you-can-eat APIs Reduced function set App store discovery Web discovery
  • 33.
    The blurred reality BETWEENNATIVE & MOBILE WEB Hardware-accelerated CSS Access to richer APIs Offline storage Chromeless experience
  • 34.
    Native vs MobileWeb The Facebook home screen
  • 35.
    Native vs MobileWeb The Facebook contact list
  • 36.
    Native vs MobileWeb TWITTER ON IPHONE
  • 37.
    Native vs MobileWeb Marbles^2 (by Remy Sharp) - Marbles2.com
  • 38.
    Is it possibleto make money on the Mobile Web? photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_lin/3205617022
  • 39.
    Flirtomatic A MOBILE WEBSUCCESS $15M rev, $12 a mth 175k paying customers
  • 40.
    Apps are justposh bookmarks IT’S ALL ABOUT SCREEN ESTATE photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlotardani/3155442938
  • 41.
    Think twice aboutyour audience IT PAYS TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK Analytics Network provider Device platforms Devices Firmware versions etc... photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/155918164/
  • 42.
  • 43.
    source: http://www.agribusinessonline.com/stats/ Poland is the 3rd biggest exporter of cherries to the USA (DATA FROM 2003) photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dudleycarr/3668145869
  • 44.
    1 in 7phones are returned BACK TO THE SUPPLIER Source: 2005 Which report (UK study) photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andricongirl/4567650298/
  • 45.
    Source: http://www.wdsglobal.com/news/whitepapers/20060717/MediaBulletinNFF.pdf 63%of returned phones have no hardware/software faults SO, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? Handset configuration / settings issue Struggling with functionality / usability of device Device did not meet expectations photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_lin/3208454911/
  • 46.
    Massive market forusable phones & apps YOU NEED TO DESIGN ‘INCLUSIVELY’ By 2020, over half of the UK population will be > 65 1 in 3 Europeans can benefit from an inclusive approach 65% of americans have lost interest due to complexity Source: http://www.btplc.com/inclusion/Usefuldownloads/index.htm#designs photo source: http://www.elmbrook.org/UserFiles/Image/Volunteer%20Opportunities/Elderly%20Hands.jpg
  • 47.
    What happened toMicrosoft? photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/didmyself/3099140737
  • 48.
    Windows mobile isdead. STOP. NOW! Nasty Broken App Store Broken UX Keep away... photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective23/3677677277/
  • 49.
  • 50.
    Windows Mobile isdead. Long live Windows Phone 7! THE BAR IS ABOUT TO BE RAISED UX comes first OS built from scratch Discoverability fixed Focus on quality rather than quantity
  • 51.
    Windows Mobile isdead. Long live Windows Phone 7! THE BAR IS ABOUT TO BE RAISED photo source:
  • 52.
  • 53.
    The little thingscount Polish makes the UX and app stand out photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_lin/3186488124/
  • 54.
    Passion “I haven’t workedin 3 years” Be curious. Question everything photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/taraethers/
  • 55.
    thank you http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronlayters/2402199783/
  • 56.
    dziękuję bardzo! @ribot photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_t_in_dc/3526644413/

Editor's Notes

  • #2 Polish tongue twister a lie - this is really a mobile 101 presentation
  • #4 Poland spends the most time in Europe on mobile web
  • #5 7 years in mobile designer/developer/entrepreneur push ui boundaries, ideas lab for mobile user interfaces
  • #6 a little bit of everything hidden nuggets/tips context, trends, ux what’s happening right now..
  • #7 In 2009, 1.2 billion mobile devices were sold Nokia still stands strong in terms of global sales with 36% of the market, selling a staggering 440 million
  • #8 Of the 1.2 billion devices sold, 174 million are "smart-phones". Symbian devices count for nearly 47% of this market
  • #9 Windows is irrelevant for now Data from earlier in the year, so slightly out of date
  • #12 South African mobile web usage is > than fixed line. It's only a matter of time until this becomes true for the western world
  • #13 Physical interactions e.g. Touchscreen, haptics, etc Tangible era
  • #14 So many things to consider and more so in the future...
  • #15  Constraints make mobile interesting. A challenge. If you're not aware of the constraints, the UX will be poor.
  • #16  Note: Constraints make mobile interesting. A challenge. If you're not aware of the constraints, the UX will be poor.
  • #17 Efficiency, relevancy,
  • #18 understand your users
  • #19 understand your users
  • #20 understand your users
  • #21 Like a large bag of chocolate buttons single early failure - non returning user
  • #22 Motorola Exit, Quit,
  • #23 Swiss army knife. Technological advancement and usability
  • #24 pink: iPhone 3GS, green: iPhone 3G, the rest: single-function devices aka cameras blue: Nikon D90
  • #26 Miniaturisation (shrinking things down) vs Mobilisation (process of selecting the features most important to the user given the mobile context)
  • #27 If you can't get it right in 2D, don't even consider going into 3D. Complexity and poor UX for the sake of an 80s buzz word.      Simpler, more usable interfaces - consider the forgotten (and rapidly growing) markets
  • #29 simple, aesthetically pleasing,
  • #30 whilst we’re having tea, don’t forget the website!
  • #32 A growing number to choose from Platforms can be generally split in two: native and third party Mobile web is the main third party contender
  • #33 Native payment UX requires far less effort than web
  • #35 Faster design/dev iterations Sometimes faster performance
  • #36 Which do I prefer? Web
  • #37 Native, mobile web, desktop web
  • #38 Spot the difference? Looks the same. But more important, the same UX
  • #40 It doesn’t look great Iterate fast new feature in 3 wks, 15% increase in rev operator deck placement has been key hybrid approach
  • #41 all about getting in front of your eyes good icon design is crucial
  • #42 dig as much as possible don’t make assumptions Blackberry’s biggest market is not enterprise It’s games. Why. BBM and qwerty keyboards
  • #43 while I was searching for local statistics...
  • #45 tell me more....
  • #48 while I was searching for local statistics...
  • #50 A fingernail interaction rather than a finger interaction
  • #51 Less than 200 apps for launch Great potential
  • #54 minimising the number of subconscious questions the user needs to make
  • #55 minimising the number of subconscious questions the user needs to make