uxmelina

If I had it my way!

Not the Tablet

One major drawback to a touch screen is that the user’s own input device (figure, hand, etc) obstructs the very interface objects they are trying to interact with. This fact, coupled with egonomics of how a user would hold an e-reader-targeted tablet (if the rumors are true), makes the on screen traditional keyboard even more awkward.

Imagine relaxing on your couch reading some online blog/book/site and you are promted to type something (a note in the margin, a password, a search term). You are then presented with the mock up. What do you do? Awkwardly hold the super thin device with one hand, stabalizing it with your stomach and typing with one hand? I hope not!

If this use case is intended to be supported on the currently-imaginary device, I’m thinking (ok, hoping) Apple has something cool up their sleeves.  Here are a few alternatives that could have been considered:

Touch Everywhere: Touch sensors that extend beyond the screen (sides, back, etc) could actually put “controls at your finger tips”, regardless of where your hands are holding the device. Controls on the back also lend it self providing tactile feedback, but that’s a whole other blog post.

Alternate input device: A stylus seems like an appropriate input to a tablet, and does only require 1 hand to use. Drawbacks include speed of input, but that could be addressed with really good recognition software.

Although, I think it’s likely their will be a stylus, I’m really hoping for the first alternative. Kind of like how the magic mouse brought touch sensors to the surface of the mouse, I don’t think alternative #1 is too crazy. Thoughts>

As you may know, I recently graduated and started a great new job as a UX Engineer out in Silicon Valley. My summer was filled with moving myself across the country (again), getting settled in a new city (again), and getting everything I need set up. The fall is here, and although it’s nothing like the cooler fall weather I’m used to back in Waterloo, it’s nice. When I finished school I wrote a bunch of goals about all aspects of my life: social, health, money, and continual learning. Below are my education/learning goals. I will update you on the progress!

Education/Learning (career-related)

- Read more blogs: When I was in college, I think I spent so much time reading about design/research in textbooks, I found myself just reading entertaining/tech blogs. I need to cut back on those and introduce some design related blogs. I’m taking suggestions on this one, what blogs do you enjoy?

- Get more involved in the UX community in Silicon Valley: I’ve attended some BayCHI events and those are usually pretty good ways to meet new people and learn new things. Does anyone have any suggestions on other events or organizations locally?

- Explore continuing education options at Standford: I don’t plan on doing any formal education in the next year but knowing what is available will be handy when I have the time to do it!

- Blog more: I’m going to start with setting the goals at 2 posts a month. It’s not huge, and hopefully I can increase it to 2 per week. Blogging will help me find new and interesting topics to learn and write about, and also improve my writing skills (never hurts).

Education/Learning (non-career)

- Learn to Surf.

- Learn drive a motorcycle. I’m planning to take a course in the spring.

- Learn more about money management tools and investing options. I’m loving mint.com.

All of those things are interesting to me and help with money, health and social goals. I tried surfing already. It is much harder then I initially thought, I will keep at it!

In September of 2008, my design partner Katie Cerar and myself set out to redesign the television viewing experience for our 4th year design project. Eight months later, the resulting prototype was a very well validated design.

In previous posts I promised a recording of the formal technical presentation delivered. However due to some technical difficulties, we were unable to capture the presentation.

Instead, check out this video story board that details the design!