In: Computer Science
Describe the user interface in other high- technology devices commonly found in the home or office, such as a smartphone, HD television, fitness watch, or microwave oven. pick one specific device and discuss how well its interface is designed and how easy it is to use. Does the device use the same techniques as computer system interfaces, such as menus and icons?
Companies are trying hard to roll out intuitive user interfaces in any technological device so that it is easy to use by the customers. Whether its the touch panel on a smart microwave open or the menus of your smart tv. Everything is now more intuitive and graphically rich to help naviagte the fellow users of the device. Of such devices the most exciting one is the electronic device which we are hooked up all day and night i.e. our smartphones.
Earlier there was a distinction between a PC and a mobile phone and the later was chosen for mainly voice calls and text messaging on the go. But slowly the gap is diminishing. In the present world the smartphone can do complex calculations over a spreadsheet for office use and playback your favorite movies and music at home replacing your multimedia devices. There are endless possibilities on what a smartphone can do currenlty.
But the user interface of the smartphones are very different than that of traditional PCs running windows or mac operating system. As the general smartphone is a slab of glass without any physical inputs, your whole interaction with the user interface is based on touch gestures. So the applications of the smartphone has to be designed in a way such that it is easily operable with your finger or some time multiple fingers. And the screen size is also significantly small than a regular laptop. Therefore, the menus and other action items are hidden behind the interface which can be only activated via certain touch actions.
The UI of a mobile OS is designed in such a way that a senior citizen can also operate it whithout any hassles with the options of large icons and customisable menus and home screens which cater to specific needs of a user. And for other power users, the mobiles OSes are no less than a traditional PC providing complex office appplications as well as console quality gaming graphics at the ease of your hands.