Aurora interface concept (Part two)

August 07, 2008 at 8:58 pm

Further to my previous post about the Aurora interface concept earlier in the week, Adaptive Path has just released part two. The second part explores the data browsing experience using a mobile device rather than the traditional desktop.

A couple on vacation are the central figures in this second installment and use a mobile browsing device to see what events are on in their area. The use of the mobile device featured clearly takes advantage of GPS to determine their physical positioning and it also enables them to flag relevant events they may be interested in attending. The video presentation also plays on the collaboration in the first video by giving the couple the ability to share events with their social network - all on the move. Oddly enough, this concept presentation actually serves as a closer representation of what we have today than the first part when you look at the capability of the iPhone and the Google Android OS (the latter launching later this year).

However, although this is engaging stuff, it raises several interesting challenges for me. Firstly, the mobile device featured simulates the desktop experience almost identically in its interface approach - it is simply a smaller representation. This is fine in theory, however due to the compact nature of the device it would seem to require a certain degree of dexterity. Therin lies the problem. Some users still find it difficult to manipulate small 'tactile' buttons on their mobile devices today, let alone small icons to be invoked and manipulated on a touchsreen interface. In this particular scenario the mobile device is also quite small and some of the data items displayed look pretty difficult to manipulate. Clearly a cause for concern.

Secondly, there are huge accessibility issues that clearly haven't been addressed in this scenario - which is a big oversight in my opinion. How would the visually impaired or disabled user use such a device that relies heavily on visual and physical manipulation? This would be a big barrier to entry for some if such a device was marketed; there doesn't seem to be any alternative but to have nimble fingers and a good pair of lamps!

Finally, as touchscreen interfaces are becoming the norm in today’s mobile market it will be interesting to see how standards in invoking tasks on screen will mature. Will we be in a position where, depending on the device, a scroll or zoom feature are invoked by different actions, depending on the device and/or manufacturer? This clearly would be a problem for users and without doubt inhibit the advancement of the touchscreen interface as we currently know it.

Clearly mobile applications and touch screen interfaces will become more complex over time and interaction designers are going to face some big decisions on how their applications are to be invoked and manipulated - many standards are going to have to be agreed upon to render the advancing technology usable. It is an important time to be involved in interaction design and user experience. This interface concept series alone has highlighted the big challenges designers face in ensuring the huge advances in technology are made usable.

Filed under:

Data,

Design,

User experience

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