The document discusses the potential for a multi-layered interface on the iPad for consuming and interacting with digital textbooks and other media. It describes how the iPad could organize content into different layers, such as displaying the main text on one layer while showing annotations, highlights, images, or other supplementary materials on overlaying layers. This would allow users to access additional context and references instantly while reading or studying. Examples are given of how such an interface could support uses cases like textbook reading, book clubs, and watching movies with additional commentary tracks.

1. The Multi-Layered iPad
a tale by Matt Jacobs

2. What’s on the Table
- Consuming media (text, mostly)
- Where the problems lie
- How the tablet can solve them

3. Where I’m Coming From
- Work at Six Apart
- Decablogger
- I’m a tinkerer

4. A Story about Reading

5. My used text book

6. What We’ve Got
- Content in disparate locations
- Source text, your notes, footnotes,
endnotes, sidenotes

7. What I Want
- Content that is presented simply
- Ancillary data at my fingertips

8. Our Challenges
- Lots of space allows for lots of information
- Not very portable
- So we have to adjust

9. Design Differently
256x256 16x16 16x16
Upscaled

10. Organize and Limit

11. Layers of Data
Printed Text Single layer, multiple objects
Web Capable of multi-layer, but
primarily single layer
Multitouch Very well suited for multi-
layer

12. The Web Brings Us
Closer

13. Highlighted Definition

14. Annotated Images

15. Layer Hides on Blur

16. Contextual Comments

17. Map Overlays

18. TOOOOOO MUCH

19. It works, but...
- Multi-layered data is possible, but is limited
in most contexts
- UI conventions are well-established and can
be tough to break

20. The Kindle
- Stores 1,000s of
books
- No Multi-touch
- Only two data
layers (definitions)

21. How Jori Studies

22. iPad Textbook
The contents should
first be presented as a
clean slate.

23. iPad Textbook
When you want to
highlight something,
select text and a
modal dialogue
appears.

24. iPad Textbook
After highlighting, you
see a notes view.
Bubbles show
additional notes.

25. iPad Textbook
Clicking a bubble lets
you edit. Selecting
public lets classmates
see your notes.

26. iPad Textbook
You can view all public
notes, with different
markers based on the
source of the content.

27. iPad Textbook
For studying, there is a
view of just notes.
Clicking one takes you
back to the relevant
paragraph.

28. Further Examples

29. A Book Club
- Discussion questions at relevant points
- Notes from your book club members
- Author’s Commentary

30. Movies
- Tap on someone’s face for name and
recent films
- Discovery mode, where ancillary data
appears at relevant moments
- Choose from several commentaries

31. Tablets are the Best!
- Single application means more focus
- Touch interface enables modal dialogs

32. Tablets are the Best!
- Don’t sacrifice accessibility for portability
- Unlike eReaders, tablets do multimedia

33. Linkblog
- iPad and Books
http://craigmod.com/journal/ipad_and_books/
- iPad Application Design
http://mattgemmell.com/2010/03/05/ipad-application-design
- iPad UI Conventions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraserspeirs/sets/72157623224262135/
- iPad PSD Elements
http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/2010/02/01/ipad-gui-psd/

34. Thanks!
@capndesign
capndesign.com
CAPN DESIGN