10 tips for designing mobile widgets
•
16 likes•7,938 views
This document provides 10 tips for designing effective mobile widgets. Tip 1 is to design for mobile users who have short attention spans, divided attention, and use their device in interruptible and dynamic environments. Tip 2 is to understand what constitutes a widget as a small, lightweight application focused on a single purpose. Tip 3 is to target widgets at specific groups of users and allow for customization. Tip 4 is to follow design guidelines and not overuse device resources. Tip 5 is to leverage all of a device's capabilities. The remaining tips focus on single functionality, simplicity, engagement, social features, and ensuring the widget is fun.
Recommended
Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (15)
Viewers also liked
Viewers also liked (9)
Similar to 10 tips for designing mobile widgets
Similar to 10 tips for designing mobile widgets (20)
More from Raj Lal
More from Raj Lal (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
10 tips for designing mobile widgets
- 1. 10 Tips for Designing Mobile Widgets Rajesh Lal Senior Engineer, Nokia Maemo Devices, Mountain View, California
- 2. 15 minutes
- 3. Why Should We Care
- 4. Today Computer to Mobile ratio is 1:4 Worldwide 1 Billion Computers and ~ 4 Billion Mobile Phones Smartphone sales estimate: 20% increase annually, today 140 million to 423 million in 2013 Source: Wireless Expertise www.wirelessexpertise.com
- 5. Data based on study at http://www.researchandmarkets.com published July 27, 2009
- 7. Tip: 1 Design for a MobileUser
- 8. Short attention span Divided attention Interruptible Dynamic environment
- 9. Tip: 2 Know Widget A Widget is a small, light weight application, meant for a single purpose.
- 10. Mobile Widget Web Widget igoogle, Wordpress, Pageflakes, Facebook Web browser (server) based Desktop Widget Konfabulator, Desklets, Dashboard, Vista Widget Engine Native APIs < > [ ] HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML, Ajax, RIA Mobile Widget S60, Maemo Web Runtime Device APIs + =
- 11. 11 Tip: 3 Target Specific Set of Users
- 12. 12 Highly personal device Rich features specific to users Allow for customization Target sport events, conferences
- 13. Tip: 4 Play Nice
- 14. Follow design guidelines Justify space Do not poll data frequentlyDo not be a memory hog
- 15. Tip: 5 Utilize Device Potential
- 16. Nokia N900
- 17. N900 Features 48 gb exp memory touch screen widgets Open GL multi-tasking 3d graphics 32 gb Qt qwerty integrated gps firefox browser web run time linux os radio wireless broadband Ajax personalized desktop 5 mp camera 800 × 480 resolution flash Innovative design powerful processor video
- 19. Tip: 6 Focus on One Functionality
- 20. Know what Widgets are meant for Quick information Casual games Simple utility Media application Search / Lifestyle Widget Recent Trends Social Widgets Branded application Subtle advertisements Mini Web Apps
- 21. Tip: 7 Simplify Features
- 23. Paperclip Principle Easy to Look Easy to Understand Easy to Use Most effective designs are least complicated
- 24. Tip: 8 Grab the User
- 25. 2. Make it alive Compelling data Dynamic information Make it interesting 1. Attract at entry point Short title, simple headings Nice professional icon Precise description 3. Get statistics No. of downloads No. of users Feed based statistics 4. Hear your user Include email Online forum Allow for feedback
- 26. 26 Tip: 9 Add Social
- 27. 27 Mobile is a social device Always Available Meant for communication Interactive
- 28. Tip: 10 Make it Fun
- 29. 29 Add ‘Extra Fun’ Delight users Give pleasant surprises Make it special “If it's not fun, you're not doing it right” –Bob Basso
- 30. Ten Tips 1. Design for a MobileUser 6. Focus on One Functionality 7. Simplify Features 2. Know Widget 8. Grab the User 3. Target Specific Set of Users 4. Play Nice 9. Add Social 10. Make it Fun 5. Utilize Device Potential
- 31. 31
- 32. 32 Thank You rajesh.lal@nokia.com Join us @ http://maemo.org/development/sdks/
Editor's Notes
- 2008 Estimate $ 72 million / € 50 million Growth 80% 1.3 Billion in 2013 ~ € 1 billion4 mobile phones for each computerWireless Expertise forecastsSmartphone Sales: 423 million in 2013Total number of smart phone users: 1.6 billionCalculated 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 € 49.32 € 88.78 € 159.80 € 287.63 € 517.74 € 931.93 Based http://newsblaze.com/story/2009072709401000001.bw/topstory.htmlhttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/27032e/mobile_widget_plat
- 2008 Estimate $ 72 million / € 50 million Growth 80% 1.3 Billion in 2013 ~ € 1 billion4 mobile phones for : 1.6 billioneach computerWireless Expertise forecastsSmartphone Sales: 423 million in 2013Total number of smart phone usersCalculated 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 € 49.32 € 88.78 € 159.80 € 287.63 € 517.74 € 931.93 Based http://newsblaze.com/story/2009072709401000001.bw/topstory.htmlhttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/27032e/mobile_widget_plat
- Is Moving In the TrainWaiting in the QueueDriving Is not completely focused as with a computerIs doing things along with using MobileReading Talking to FriendsListening MusicWatching MovieA Mobile application is not a mini desktop applicationDesign a widget for the user who has 10 seconds of attention span
- Any desktop widget can be made to run on Mobile due to the presence of WRT A Web Widget can also be ported to a mobile device because, mobile device allows for cross domain access Both these widgets use standard web technologies
- Mobile is a highly personal device Much more than a computer or laptop which you might share with othersDefining a target allows forRich features specific to the groupGives a highly personal experience to the userExample Compare a generic RSS Widget with an RSS Widget specifically made for maemo.org UsersA Generic Crossword puzzle Widget with Popular Newspaper’s Amsterdam Post /bbc news Crossword Widget
- Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context - a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan - Eliel SaarinenFollow Design Guidelines - Use device style and fontsAccessibleTheme of the Parent Application/Web site
- Widgets are Meant for One functionalitySubset of the Main ApplicationIntuitiveNo initial configurationDefault values Except for Service Widgets (login)Information WidgetMaximum Display Current NewsFull Screen WidgetUtility Widget Access Device Data Use Low Level APISize should be minimalDesktop AppletService WidgetsLogin RequiredExample Facebook / last.fmMedia WidgetEmbedded Media PlayerAudio / VideoUse Media RSSFlash PlayerMedia applications Podcast, Video, TV WidgetFun and GamesTetris3d GraphicsOpen GL High processor speed neededRecent TrendsSocial applications Branded applicationsSubtle advertisementsMini websites
- More than 200 clock widgets at http://www.google.com/ig/directory?q=clock 95% of them have less than 100 users Aesthetically pleasing design - Good contrast Few colors, 1 highlight color Visuals cues, IconsEasy to Understand – Intuitive, No need for Help files or even instructions http://www.officemuseum.com/paper_clips.htm Samuel B. Fay in 1867The most elegant and effective designs are often the least complicated
- Rounded corners gives a feeling of smoothnessEasy to Understand – Intuitive, No need for Help files or even instructions http://www.officemuseum.com/paper_clips.htm Samuel B. Fay in 1867
- You never get a second chance for the first impression Easy Access to informationMake it Alive Example a game widget can show score from onlineUtility widget shows current conditionInformation Widget top five newsDO NOT MAKE AND FORGET
- Always Available -> Makes you feel connected Connect with Facebook, last.fm, Youtube, Addthis widget – bookmark, takes a link and help spread in the social network, twitter, facebook, digg, etcCreate Widget which use these social features Example: A Movie Widget able to talk to your Facebook FriendsYour locations Widget showing friends from address bookFriends rating for a Restaurant / Hotel/ Bar in a new cityWidget for connected maemo UsersChat with your group with similar tasteGet Recommendations on Books from your Friends
- Example of A cake, frosting and candle Fortune CookieA simple fortune cookie can add a good animation and a chiming music for extra magical effects.Sounds EffectsAnimationsThe ‘extra fun’ makes the difference between a good and a great widget