Design, Writing, & Development
     for Touch and Voice
   Applications and Devices


             Joe
           Welinske
          joewe@writersua.com
            Twitter: welinske
A Major Inflection Point


   •   New interactions with the UI…
   •   …require new techniques and processes
   •   Proprietary interactions…
   •   …make software development harder
   •   Uniquely customized UIs…
   •   …require decisions about language
Touch Today

•   SmartPhones
•   Tablets: iPad / Kindle Fire / Google Nexus
•   Mac OSx Trackpad
•   Windows 7 Touchpad
•   Automotive Dash

•   and now, Windows 8
    desktop and tablets
Multi-touch Controls

•   Multi-touch controls are not easily discoverable
•   Multi-touch gestures to trigger certain
    features.
        Quickoffice       PhotoPad       AccuTerra




                      x              x
Tablet dimensions:
allow for more activity
   which can mean a
   complex touch UI
The Ultimate Touch Easter Egg
The Language of Gestures


   •   Individual word choices are extremely
       important
   •   It is worth testing with users to find the
       best words.
   •   Word choices may change depending on
       the mobile platform
Gesture Language in UA

  ToonPAINT       Weightbot       AutoCAD




              x               x
Gesture Language in UA


  Convertbot       Calvetica       eBay




               x               x
Gesture Resources

      Touch Gesture
      Reference Guide
 www.lukew.com/ff/en
    try.asp?1071

  •   iOS
  •   Android
  •   Windows Phone
  •   Mac
  •   Windows
  •   Others
Gesture Comparison by Platform/Device
Gesture Comparison by Platform/Device
Translation Issues for Gesture Terms
Single-sourcing for Multiple Device Types


   •   Conditional Text
       •   Based on device type
       •   Based on UI type
   •   HTML5 / CSS / Media Query
   •   Authoring Tools
Device-specific instructions using
conditional text
Device-specific instructions



                                Phone



           Laptop



                               TV
Interaction-specific instructions



              Tablet
                                         Car
                       Phone
     Laptop
                                    TV
Windows 8
NFC

         Phone
Tablet
                 Desktop

          Car
         Dash
Home
 Ent.
Other UI Elements

 •   Device-specific controls need consideration

      Gallery of Android   Sony Xperia Play
      button bars
iPhone User Guide

                    Supplemental
 Use of icons         language
                                           x


                                   Set…
                                   Turn…
                                   Focus…
                                   Zoom
Custom Language Choices

 Select Edit Share
         a.             b.         c.




                x            x
        Double tap, hold     Drag your finger
        and drag to select   while holding
Custom Language Choices – Windows Phone
             Fantasia Paint                   Office Word




                                  x
           Photo Collage              Tasks Anywhere




                              x
Voice Today


   •   iOS Siri
   •   Office ?
   •   Android Google Voice
   •   Ford Sync
Design, Writing, & Development
     for Touch and Voice
   Applications and Devices


             Joe
           Welinske
          joewe@writersua.com
            Twitter: welinske

Language Considerations for Mobile Apps and Devices