In his Devices, Designs and Enabling Behaviors talk at Mobilism in Amsterdam, Netherlands Antony Ribot outlined how we need further simplification in mobile devices and applications along with a few strategies for getting there. Here’s my notes from his talk.
- The iPhone revolution didn’t happen for many people. It has a high cost to entry barrier. It is an aspirational device. In the UK, 60% of mobile purchasing decisions are based on cost. Aging population does not find the iPhone to be simple enough. Technophobes as well.
- There are Analog, Digital, and Physical interactions. Touch screen devices are an example of mass-market application of physical interactions. The next major battle will be about audio input.
- Another way to make things more physical: haptic feedback. We shouldn’t have to only use our eyes to interact with devices. Can feel information and then dive deeper visually if we need to.
- Design with as many people in mind as possible. Inclusive design and Universal Design are the terms used to describe this. Designing for inclusivity is designing for task-orientated behaviors and independence. Inclusive does not mean un-inspiring. Aspire to create things that are simple.
- A seventy year old needs the font size to be twice as big as a twenty year old. A 10 year old has the same strength as a 70 year old.
- Why are we creating products: money-saving, time-saving, enables other actions, or feeds our habits. What emotion do you want to invoke from the consumer?
- Re-use learned behaviors. Make use of what the customer is used to. iPhone users will perform certain gestures based on what they have been doing on their device.
- Re-use real world interactions. When an app integrated scanning feature, people understood what it did immediately.
- One step is best. One-button actions like: purchase, check-in, scan, search, login. This helps keep people on a clear path to completion.
- You want to be independent, simple experiences, and to be connected.
- Simplicity is really required in the mobile market. Let’s create a new trend of simple phones and simple apps for phones.