Question

Outcomes (1,5)

1. Compare Dependencies Between Hardware and Software (B, C, D)
5. Compare Personal Entertainment Applications (C, D)

Instructions

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Operating systems like Windows 10 and Office 365 look very flat. The main argument is that people have now adopted computer environments for what they are and no longer need 3D looking interfaces that represent skeuomorphism. Do you agree or disagree with this trend?

Initial Post: In a brief post of 150-200 words or more, describe the following:

There are various arguments for and against Skeuomorphism. Give three reasons for and three reasons against using an interface that has skeuomorphism.

Do you believe that it is the flat-design interfaces of Windows 8 that has kept it from being popular? Why or why not?

Answer 1

The reasons due to which one can use an interface that has skeuomorphism are:

• Skeuomorphism makes a design more intuitive. It is obvious that seeing a design element which looks familiar we can guess what it means and how it works.
• It causes strong associations. Thanks to the trend we can create certain connections with objective reality and thus make a design easier for perception. For example, use of wooden texture for a furniture store website. The approach increases our associations with a real store and recreates a usual atmosphere which simplifies perception of the online analogue.
• It enriches design with visual metaphors. Cool elements can make your composition even more stylish and attractive.

Yes,I do believe that it is the flat-design interfaces of Windows 8 that kept it from being popular because flat design has drawbacks regarding the user experience. The absence of three-dimensional effects (e.g., drop shadows) takes away the cues that indicate how a user can interact with a design. For example, buttons in the flat design style do not appear distinct from other visual elements on a webpage, and therefore do not appear clickable. Because of this danger, flat design is increasingly applied in a more balanced way, often referred to as “flat design 2.0” or “almost flat design.” This trend takes the clean and simple visuals from flat design and adds some subtle skeuomorphic qualities such as color variations and shadows. With this increased depth and dimension, visual variety increases and usability improves. For instance, Google’s Material Design and Apple’s iOS interfaces heavily use shadows and/or blurring effects to make their interfaces more intuitive to use.