Tag Archives: development

Beautiful mobile applications, beautiful user experiences Part 3

Whilst exploring issues around the look and feel of Synote Mobile Mike sent me this blog, which is one of three from The Computer Weekly Application Developer Network

“In part three of this guest blog for the Computer Weekly Developer Network, Sybase technical evangelist and mobile evangelist Ian Thain discusses the new mobile application landscape characterised by new and more beautiful user interfaces.

Links to part one and part two of this series.

There are a few mobile design guidelines that should never be far from your thoughts.

To take a few as examples :-

  • The initial screen should be kept as clear as possible to act as a launch point, because first impressions count – Synote has always gone for the minimalist approach! 
  • Keep the main/primary controls in the thumb ‘hot zones’ at the edge of the screen and keep the most important content at the top, with controls at the bottom – this is particularly important for screen reader users who often track their fingers around the edges of phone screen to catch menu items.ITSmallPR.jpg
  • Be generous with the space on the screen, do not crowd and avoid scrolling where you can. Reducing clutter helps everyone but in particular disabled users as does the following point. 
  • Stick to proven navigation models, which can be used in combination, use flat pages for simple applications, and if possible make use of a tab bar that switches between the app’s main functions, and/or a tree structure for drilling down through a hierarchy of content.”

Please read the rest of the actual blog if you are interested.

1st Team Meeting – 22nd March 9-10am, 4th floor demo room/FPAS board room 32/4073

This will be the first meeting of the team to discuss:

  • Design and development of the Synote web app suitable for mobile technologies
  • Conversions of permitted recordings to suit the mobile platform
  • Issues related to media types, transcriptions and annotations.
  • Preparation for OER 3 Programme Meeting being held on 26th March 2012 at Dexter House, London
  • AOB
  • Next meeting date.