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AAP312. Creating User Experiences: Unlocking the Invisible Cage. Billy Hollis Billyhollis.com. Present. 1985-1995. Proliferation of devices Touch computing Ubiquitous connectivity Cloud storage. PCs: distributed computing Local area networks Graphical user interfaces
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AAP312 Creating User Experiences:Unlocking the Invisible Cage Billy Hollis Billyhollis.com
Present 1985-1995 • Proliferation of devices • Touch computing • Ubiquitous connectivity • Cloud storage • PCs: distributed computing • Local area networks • Graphical user interfaces • Rise of the Internet
“For the history of software, it’s been good enough to make things possible. Now success also depends on making things easy.”
HTML Windows Forms Classic Visual Basic Java Swing Etc. File Edit Blah More blah Window Help
Most common mistake • Assuming better design primarily means better aesthetics
Counter-example • ConexentSmartAudio • Fabulous cosmetics • Incomprehensibleoperation
HTML Windows Forms Classic Visual Basic Java Swing Etc. File Edit Blah More blah Window Help
How do you get there? First step – understanding underlying design principles… …some of which go against the habits of your whole career
“Screen real estate is valuable!” • Really? • Pixels are free
Gestalt Principles • Human visual system is optimized to see structure and relationships • This leads to several principles of design that are collectively known as gestalt principles • Proximity • Similarity • Common fate • Continuity and Closure (filling gaps) • Figure / ground
Proximity can be overridden by similarity • Similar objects are unconsciously grouped together • Various attributes can be used to make objects similar • Color • Shape • Size