IT
Build software for
the user – not just
for the new platforms
Interface design is crucial for users
A
s mobile computing continues its rapid growth in
both the consumer and enterprise environments,
software developers are faced with a new challenge.
Not only do they need to cater for new platforms
for their applications, but also a new concept in
design. In the past, engineers would develop software based on the
technicalities involved in the back end; the users had little choice in
the interface used. Now the interface is fundamental to the mobile
software development process.
Users demand an engaging consumer interface for mobile devices
that meets their needs and expectations, not what the engineers
decide to provide. This is forcing the development industry to tackle
an element of design it has never had to deal with before.
Software is no longer simply an engineering project. The look and
feel as well as the functionality of the interface is as important as the
back end. To capture users’ interest in the final product, the interface
must be designed to provide a “sticky” experience. Today’s interface
has to “dazzle” from the moment the application starts.
An example of this can be seen in the difference between the
interface design of the two most popular mobile interfaces: Apple’s
iPad and Google’s Android operating systems. In articles published
by Business Insider and Mashable, the authors show that Apple’s
design is more popular because its focus is on the user’s experience,
not technology. The user experience is critical to Apple, while
technology and what the d