Understanding the Device
The concept of understanding a device means actively using the device. If you’re planning on designing for a smartphone, it is imperative you establish what device/platform you will be using as each device has their own unique user interactions, UI elements, terminology & device characteristics.
Common iOS Gestures
Tap – Building block of the iOS platform, through the usage of pressure sensitive glass which enables the users finger pressure to come into contact with the screen.
Drag – The drag relies on the push and movement of the finger to move an on screen element that is reserved for steady movement across the screen. This may include the gesture of sliding your finger across the lock screen button to unlock the phone.
Flick – Similar to the drag, it requires touch and movement of the users finger. It is designed to allow for a lighter and quicker touch than the drag, due to being a less directed movement.
Swipe – The swipe uses a larger finger contact area for directed on screen movement. It allows the user to access on screen menus and navigation trays, in addition to opening menus and other touch heavy interface elements.
Pinch – The pinch gesture relies on specific finger interactions that can allow zoom in and out features. The pinch is the first IOS gesture to make use of two contact points to activate the on screen controls.
Random Gestures – This can include the shake which activates user elements or a user driven action. The shake uses the iPhones accelerometer to activate use interface element or user interaction.
UI-iOS Anatomy
Apple iOS has a set of requirements for designing to specifications of interactions and user interface elements as outlined in their Human Interface Guidelines, these include:
Bars: Contain contextual information that tells users where they are and provide controls that help users navigate or initiate actions.
Content Views: Content views contain app specific content and can enable interactions such as scrolling, insertion, deletion and re arrangement of items.
Controls: Controls perform actions or display information.
Temporary Views: Appear briefly to give users important information or additional choices and functionalities.
The Keyboard: The default keyboard used for IOS launches differently on the iPhone 5 and iPhone 6+. When designing on the IOS it gives the individual options on which keyboard they want to launch.
Pickers and Date Pickers: The picker replaces the traditional drop down box from the desktop, this element allows for a larger contact area for touch based gestures, making it easier for selection options.
Inputs: The last set of inputs are app specific it consists of the slider and the switch. These input methods can be used to create interactive messages when selecting choices and images on the screen.
The Tab Bar: The tab bar is one of iPhones signature navigation tools for apps and interfaces. The IOS tab bar replaces the standard traditional tab bar and utilizes icons, This element comes preset with the iPhone and is available as a default control.
The Navigation Bar: The navigation bar plays a critical role in terms of navigation and lists on IOS, this tool is used for the second and third level screens to allow for navigation back buttons, action buttons and titles for accessing content.
The Tool Bar: The tool bar is located at the bottom of the screen and acts as a placeholder for icon buttons and text, the goal of this tool is to support the current view or page, providing secondary navigation.
The Action Menu: The action menu allows for secondary navigation whilst on an app, features include being able to launch and app from the tool bar, this gives users access to secondary actions or navigation.
Reflection
This weeks lecture notes talk about relevant gestures, features and functions across devices and the importance of each. I had learnt that mobile designers need to use a wide variety of smartphones for an extended duration of time in order to fully understand it when it comes to developing an app. The lecture notes were very informative as I had learnt more about Apple’s iOS behaviors & gestures as well as all the elements that consists within the iPhone that allows the user an easy and satisfying experience.
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