5 Features of Intelligent Mobile User Experience Design

Sound Barriers research is complete, and on the face of it, the  original premise, that ‘Voice as a User Interface (VUI) for mobile applications had finally come of age’, seems to have been disproved.  It is true that VUI technology has advanced in terms of accuracy and availability, but the inability to interpret redundant information (tone of voice, eye movement) continues to hold back natural, intuitive VUI.  Fundamental changes in the market structure need to occur before VUI can be a true alternative user interface for mobile applications & devices.

It is clear that it is not voice as a user interface, but voice in the user interface that offers the best opportunities in mobile. In order to exploit those opportunities, we can learn much from VUI design and development that applies to the mobile user experience design now.  The way in which users interact with VUI gives us tools and techniques of practical use in designing and developing better mobile apps and devices, a blue-print for Intelligent Mobile User Experience Design.

Just as Mobile Web 2.0 requires new interfaces and aspects to user experience to be successful (e.g. iPhone UI), so too will the mobile semantic Web 3.0 require the same.  Mobile and mobile devices are key to the success of the semantic web itself as included will be sensors and wearable computers.   Hence, mobile product managers, product developers, designers and marketeers will need to approach user experience design at new levels and in a new way.  There are 5 features to what we will call, Intelligent Mobile User Experience  (IMUX)

1. Use of multi-sensory user interfaces to gather redundant information and detect context
2. Multiple user paths dependent on analysis of data and application of intelligence, leading to increased personalisation of services
3. More multi-disciplinary teams, understanding of how the user’s think and behave becomes as important as how the technology works and behaves
4. Continuous product development and enhancement by the users themselves
5. As well as capability axis sensory, physical and cognitive[1], designers must also consider social factors.  Devices and applications will have their capabilities measured in the same way as we currently measure users.

Having only just come to these conclusions, I am starting to wonder what the impacts might be on how we design, develop and manage mobile products and services?

You can find out more about Sound Barriers here

[1] Inclusive Design principle – users are measured in terms of their sensory, physical and cognitative capabilties compared with those required to operate the product or service.

Advertisement