Question

What is the single largest constraint to consider when developing an application targeting mobile users? What kind of implications do this constraint have when developing a mobile application?

Answer the question in 500 words or more.

Answer 1

Mobile smartphones come with inherent constraints: small screen, short sessions, single window visible at one time, and variable connectivity. But some of their features also present unique opportunities. Mobile-design principles reflect these limitations and strengths.

---> Mobile devices have transformed the way we live and conduct everyday activities.

---> Not only can we access almost any type of content on mobile, but with most mobile smartphones today we can deposit checks, accept credit cards, order food and pay for groceries, sign digital documents, and even lock our house door.

---> Some of these tasks have become easier because of the existence of this new technology: the smartphone.

WHAT IS MOBILE APP ARCHITECTURE?

---> Mobile app architecture is a set of techniques and patterns used to develop fully structured mobile applications based on industry and vendor specific standards.

---> While formulating the app architecture, the procedures that work on wireless mobile device like smartphones and tablets are also taken into consideration.

ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE DEVELOPING YOUR MOBILE APP ARCHITECTURE:

Since building better app architecture is crucial to the success of your mobile app development, you would need to keep in mind the following factors before getting started with designing your app architecture:

DETERMINING THE DEVICE TYPES:

---> There are different categories of smartphones and it is very important for you to evaluate the device type and its characteristics prior to selecting particular app architecture. You must keep the following characteristics of the device in mind:

* Screen resolution

* Size of screen

* CPU characteristics

* Memory

* Availability of development framework

* Storage space

---> Wondering why we have to determine the device type while selecting app architecture? This is because the features of your mobile app might have some specific hardware and software requirements.

CONSIDERING BANDWIDTH SCENARIOS:

---> It is of utmost importance to keep in mind the internet network scenarios of the areas your target audience live or work. This is because fluctuation of internet speeds can negatively impact user experience.

---> Your customers may not be connected to the internet all the time. They might even have intermittent network at times.

---> While selecting software protocols and hardware for your mobile app, you would need to take into account power consumption and speed.

---> Also design your cache mechanism, data access mechanism and state management such that it can adjust to slow and intermittent internet connection.

DEFINING USER INTERFACE:

---> When it comes to creating mobile application user interface design, you can explore the horizons of creativity with your distinct style.

---> However, you must remember to keep the interface as simple as possible so that users can intuitively interact with the same. Furthermore, it is recommended to avoid clumsy UI lest your app is more likely to fail.

Let’s take a look on strategies that should be considered:

1. Target

You should know who you are targeting. Suppose you are going to develop an application related to education then you should categorize education levels into different groups based on their ages and education level. So it is easy for the user to select right option in your app based on his/her education level. So know who you are targeting.

2. Speed

Your app should respond as quickly as possible. If it’s showing waiting or loading user will be irritated. No one wants slow apps. Suppose, user wants to check movie tickets availability and app is taking more time to show results, when your results are displayed finally, it shows all tickets are sold; because of time constraints what you will do? Obviously, next time you will go for other alternatives. So, speed should be considered important while developing an app.

3. Number of downloads

Always focus on developing something that can be used by almost everyone. You never want to create an app that has a limited usage to a specific class, rather focus on making it more public and something that is used by all. With that, also make sure you’re your app has that extraordinary feature that compels users to start using it, the moment they download it.

4. Include Social media

Connecting your app with social media has one biggest advantage, which might not be wise to avoid. If you integrate your developed app with social media such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, then more social media users will know there is such an app that exists, leading to more downloads.

5. Competition

Your app should compete with other play store apps. So you should think about, how do you develop an app which is different from others and why users should download this. Suppose if you are developing an ecommerce application, try to automate some features like auto filling data, OTP entering etc. So that it would be easy for users would feel less trouble and will get a good impression of an app.

6. Make it simple and avoid loads of features

If you are planning to load your app with way too many features, then it is not a good idea. You don’t want a unique features that can turn out to be bad. You don’t want users to give feedback that it is “messy”, “too much to do”, “still discovering its features”, “didn’t understand the app completely even after a month of download” etc. Instead go with easy features or user friendly features, which would compel users to use your app. Surely you want to see good reviews on the review page.

7. Add customizing feature

Users love customizing features. Adding a few customizable features will make your app more appealing in comparison to an app that cannot be customized. Users should be capable of getting everything they choose, even if it’s an app. In fact, a customizable app are more in demand.

HOW TO MAINTAIN THE PROCESS FLOW OF YOUR MOBILE APPLICATION?

Usually, your mobile application can be structured in three different layers as mentioned above; we would take a look at the guidelines to be followed for each layer.

1. Presentation layer
2. Business layer
3. Data access layer

PRESENTATION LAYER

The primary focus of this layer is how the application would be presented to the end user. While designing this layer, as an app developer, you are supposed to determine the correct client type which is compliant with the infrastructure. The deployment constraints of client should also be kept in mind.

BUSINESS LAYER

Logging, caching, validation, security and exception management are various aspects that the business layer is concerned with. Our mobile app developers state that you must separate the tasks into various categories in order to reduce the complexity of this layer.

DATA ACCESS LAYER

This layer meets with the application requirements and facilitates secure data transactions. Therefore, you must design this layer such that it could scale in the future as the business requirements change down the road.