Flag

We stand with Ukraine and our team members from Ukraine. Here are ways you can help

Home ›› Design ›› Tablet usability: the future can’t come soon enough

Tablet usability: the future can’t come soon enough

by Steve Workman
2 min read
Share this post on
Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Save

Last weekend I sat on the Tube (the London Underground to international readers), Piccadilly line to be exact, heading into central London. A young man got on and sat down opposite me. He got out a little ASUS netbook, turned it on, and swiveled the lid to use it as a touchscreen. “Awesome,” I thought, “he’s got one of those cool touchscreen netbooks running Windows 7. I’d love one of those, it’d be so convenient.”

I watched the man use the laptop for a while, as he tapped at the screen and used two fingers to scroll on a page. It looked ace—it looked simple. But soon the experience turned sour.

I watched as the man pulled a stylus out from the side of the computer and started to tap at the screen. I thought styluses had been banned by international law since the introduction of the iPhone nearly two and a half years ago. Still, if there are still some things that can’t use the OS zoom function, then maybe a stylus has to be used.

I then received an even greater shock.

I watched in amazement as the man lifted up the screen to try and use the keyboard. Upside down. A CTRL + something command that was not present in the touchscreen menu.

Naturally, as a usability practitioner, I was horrified but continued to watch the bloke struggle. It took him five stabs and glances back at the screen to confirm the action was successful. By this time, the man looked thoroughly frustrated with his program’s choice of shortcut. Soon after, he packed up his laptop and got off the train.

What seems to be the moral story is that no matter how advanced your OS is, the applications that you run can still scupper the experience, especially with tablets. There are two solutions to this problem:

  1. The iPhone way: Touch is the only interaction option. No legacy apps are allowed. It’s an OS designed for touch and for touch only.
  2. The full screen keyboard way: Windows 7 may have a good touchscreen keyboard, but it isn’t implemented in all apps (the iPhone way). You would need a true full-screen multi-touch keyboard, adaptable to different screen sizes, to make it function correctly.

Hopefully there’s a third way: the Apple tablet way. We’ll wait and see about that

This article was originally published on Steve’s blog.

post authorSteve Workman

Steve Workman
Steve Workman is a consultant for PA Consulting Group in London. His job is to design and create applications and web sites using the latest standards-compliant and accessible technology. Steve is the lead mobile developer within PA, making Android and iPhone apps for the enterprise. He is also an organiser of the London Web Standards group who set up educational talks on web standards for people in the London area. Follow him on Twitter @steveworkman or read his personal blog on steveworkman.com

Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Related Articles

Curious about the next frontier in AI design? Discover how AI can go beyond chatbots to create seamless, context-aware interactions that anticipate user needs. Dive into the future of AI in UX design with this insightful article!

Article by Maximillian Piras
When Words Cannot Describe: Designing For AI Beyond Conversational Interfaces
  • The article explores the future of AI design, moving beyond simple chatbots to more sophisticated, integrated systems.
  • It argues that while conversational interfaces have been the focus, the potential for AI lies in creating seamless, contextual interactions across different platforms and devices.
  • The piece highlights the importance of understanding user intent and context, advocating for AI systems that can anticipate needs and provide personalized experiences.
Share:When Words Cannot Describe: Designing For AI Beyond Conversational Interfaces
21 min read

Uncover the dynamic landscape of UX design as artificial intelligence continues to reshape the field. With automated tools revolutionizing our roles, what does the future hold for designers?

Article by Michal Malewicz
The End of Design?
  • The article explores the impact of AI on UX design, questioning the future role of designers as automated tools become more prevalent.
  • It highlights the historical evolution of UX design and the commodification of design roles, emphasizing the shift from creative problem-solving to efficiency-driven practices.
  • It emphasizes the need for future designers to be generalists with strong decision-making skills, capable of leading projects and maintaining creativity in an AI-driven landscape.
Share:The End of Design?
9 min read

Tell us about you. Enroll in the course.

    This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Check our privacy policy and