Arnie Lund is talking. He explores the software design issues for Tablets and forthcoming devices. He applies “what if” thinking to brainstorm new ideas and ways of using Tablets. He sees designing around a lifestyle or expression because you can then sell that as a feature. The device is not just a device.
The goal is to design a platform that can support many different lifestyle, so that each person feels like the platform is aimed to them. The core (the heart) is still critical. It makes it possible to do what you want to do. In a consumer device, there’s more to it than this.
The vision is for natural interaction that anyone can get excited about. They look for a passion for the technology, like the early days with cell phones when they got small. They look for how people feel when they use a device–not just its functional use. They want to enhance the non-functional attractions (values) of the devices.
Ideally you’d like the design to become synonymous with the experience of using the device. The iPod is an example.
How can we build devices that everyone gets value of from.
Designers aspire for iconic designs: you mention a product and everyone immediately knows what it looks like and how they connect with it.
Research being done is at a couple different levels:
* Industrial design
— fit to user: how is the device being held, ergonmic issues, one vs two-hand use
— fit to activity: hardware the fits specific activities
— fit to heart: focus on desirability
* Software side of research design
— Identify hte functional needs
— understanding the user requirements and context (what keeps people from getting a new device)
— quantifying the impact of design
— improving the fundamentals
— scalable experience
— holistic design
Ken Hardy is talking about “Making Windows Personal.”
Consumers are interested in converged devices, but they are hard to deliver:
* Super specialized hardware
* Limited operating systems and software
* Poor integration
What about Windows?
* “Ultra-mobile PCs” are becoming a reality
* This is not enough
– Windows is hard to use on the go
– It’s not optmized for a small screen experience
– Personal information is buried
– Its not aware of the user and their environment
* Windows needs to be more personal
— Many things in Windows are buried down. Several steps to get to.
As Windows focus more on lifestyle, applications and devices need to focus on more design issues.
Simplicity
* Lifestyle devices deliver streamlined experiences
— Never more than a couple “clicks” to primary actions
— Specialized hardware
* Good devices become personal
— Users can purchase a device that matches their taste
— Device represents personal experience
— Devices are used casually, wihtout looking
When making a Tablet smaller, the design becomes more important.
Simplified Convergence
* Custom UI that offers 2-3 scenaries
* Scenarios are tightly integrated
* Hardware supports scenario and style
Personalizing Windows
* full screen media, rich presentation
* support natural interaction
— reach out and touch the screen
— write with a pen
Currently Windows is about folders, files, menus and he suggests focusing on people, places, and things instead.
He’s showing prototypes of personalized desktops. Very cool. They have big buttons, with focused content, very nicely designed backdrops.
Third factor in design goal is around “awareness” (not AI). There’s so much information already available. The goal is to get to it so that Windows is more aware of what the user is doing.
(I just tagged along with Rob Bushway and Dennis Rice to meet Chris Pratley and several members of the OneNote Team. Chris was kind enough to spend about 30 minutes with us, answering our questions and listening to what I’d like to see added to OneNote as a developer. He also introduced us to several Program Managers (I can’t recall all their names), including Owen Braun, and Peter–a key OneNote developer. Rob Bushway has more here. Thanks Chris!)
Frank Gocisnki of the Tablet team is talking about the Tablet Echosystem. His key points:
* We’ve hit an inflection point
* Mobility is key
* The hardware is ready
* Windiows Vista platform is ready
* Mobile-tuned applications will be noticed
Call to action:
* Evaluate your app’s mobilie abilities
* Review the Mobile APIs within the new Windows SDK
* Take advantage of the new Vista framework in your apps
* Take advantage of marketing opportunities
* Contribute to the Tablet Development Center
* Give feedback as an ISV
Loren, thanks for posting these details for those of us that are very interested but were unable to attend!
Thanks. I wish I could have blogged even more. I realized it’s hard to blog for two days straight 🙂