G46 – The lack of tactile user feedback also affects the user experience of data input on multi-touch interfaces.

Guideline:

The  lack  of  tactile  user  feedback  also  affects  the  user experience  of  data  input  on  multi-touch  interfaces.

Guideline Description:

The  lack  of  tactile  user  feedback (Guideline 41) also  affects  the  user experience  of  data  input on  multi-touch  interfaces, for example, typing in a virtual keyboard.

Example:

An user typing in a virtual keyboard with visual feedback.

Source:

Challenges for Designing the User Experience of  Multi-touch Interfaces, 2010

Tags:

Challenge,Feedback, Multi-touch,User Experience.

G45 – Gestures in use are increasingly becoming inconsistent across different manufacturers, it is necessary to define a standard gestures.

Guideline:

Gestures in use are increasingly becoming inconsistent across different manufacturers, it is necessary to define a standard gestures.

Guideline Description:

The lacks of standard of gestures make with the gestures in use are increasingly becoming inconsistent across different manufacturers. The creation of standard gestures is also difficult to achieve due to the patents that protect specific gestures for a manufacturer.

Example:

An example of a set of gestures used by a manufacturer.

Source:

Challenges for Designing the User Experience of  Multi-touch Interfaces, 2010

Tags:

Challenge, Gestures,  Multi-touch, Standard.

G44 – Accessibility issues should be taken into account, for example giving tools to allow the use by blind people.

Guideline:

Accessibility issues should be taken into account, for example giving tools to allow the use by blind people.

Guideline Description:

Blind and visually impaired people face barriers when interacting with touch screens. Due to this factor, tools for this type of people should be provided in order to attenuate this limitation, for example through screen readers.

Example:

VoiceOver is an example of a screen reader.

Source:

Challenges for Designing the User Experience of  Multi-touch Interfaces, 2010

Tags:

Accessibility,Challenge, Multi-Touch, Support, Vision.

G43 – Different physical properties have to be considered while designing the interface (e.g. size of buttons).

Guideline:

Different  physical  properties have  to  be  considered  while  designing  the  interface  (e.g. size  of  buttons).

Guideline Description:

Different users have different physical characteristics.  The different  physical  properties should be considered  in the design of the  interface  (e.g. size  of  buttons).

Example:

An example of a touch-screen interface, with large buttons.

Source:

Challenges for Designing the User Experience of  Multi-touch Interfaces, 2010
Touch Screens for the Older User,2011
Touch Screen User Interfaces for Older Adults: Button Size and Spacing,2007

Tags:

Buttons,Challenge,Content, Elderly, Layout,Motor, Multi-touch, Target Design.

G42 – It is necessary that interface elements do not are covered by fingers, hands or arms during the interaction.

Guideline:

It is necessary that interface elements do not are covered by fingers, hands or arms during the interaction.

Guideline Description:

The partial occlusion of the screen caused by fingers, hands and arms when users interacting with surface are an aspect that should be into account in the design of a multi-touch interface. So, the design of interface should avoid occlusions that affecting the interaction, and the hand and arm movements should be considered in the placing the elements in the user interface, in order to prevent early muscle fatigue.

Example:

Examples of finger occluding pie menu.

Source:

Challenges for Designing the User Experience of  Multi-touch Interfaces, 2010

Tags:

Challenge, Interface, Interaction, Layout, Motor, Multi-touch,  Overlap.

G41 – There is lack of tactile user feedback.

Guideline:

There is lack of tactile user feedback.

Guideline Description:

The presence of tactile feedback when a interface is touched is important, giving to user the location of the touchs on user interface.

Example:

Identification of touches in the interface provide tactile user feedback.

Source:

Challenges for Designing the User Experience of  Multi-touch Interfaces, 2010
Design Principles to Accommodate Older Adults,2012

Tags:

Challenge, Feedback,Multi-touch.

G40 – Natural affordances of screens are needed.

Guideline:

Natural affordances of screens are needed.

Guideline Description:

Natural affordances of screens representing a challenge in designing of multi-touch interfaces. The physical appearance of screens can be an affordance of interface use. If physical appearances do not give touch affordances, then it is necessary providing visual cues, such as the use of written or symbolic instructions.

Example:

Use of written instructions as affordance in a touch screen.

Illustration adapted from Challenges for Designing the User Experience of  Multi-touch Interfaces

Source:

Challenges for Designing the User Experience of  Multi-touch Interfaces, 2010

Tags:

Affordance, Challenge, Multi-Touch, Screen

G18 – Display size may be intimidating.

Guideline:

Display size may be intimidating.

Guideline Description:

The use of large displays allows a better presenting of the contents  although sometimes a large display size may be intimidating. The use of  a smaller display may be less intimidating.

Example:

The display size may be intimidating in a doctor’s office.

Illustration adapted from Exploring the Accessibility and Appeal of Surface Computing for Older Adult Health Care Support

Source:

Exploring the Accessibility and Appeal of Surface Computing for Older Adult Health Care Support,2010

Tags:

Accessibility, Comfort, Elderly, Hardware,  Multi-Touch, Testing.

G17 – Consider a tilted or adjustable display, can ease the interface visualization.

Guideline:

Consider a tilted or adjustable display, can ease the interface visualization.

Guideline Description:

The use of a tilted or adjustable display attenuates the motor and visual impairments of the older adults.

 Example:

An example of use of a tilted display by an older user.

Illustration adapted from An Exploratory Study of a Touch-Based Gestural Interface for Elderly

Source:

Exploring the Accessibility and Appeal of Surface Computing for Older Adult Health Care Support,2010
Touch Screens for the Older User,2011
Design Principles to Accommodate Older Adults,2012

Tags:

Accessibility, Comfort, Elderly, Hardware, Multi-touch, Testing, Vision.

G16 – Positioning at the surface is critical, the user should be able easily reach the interface corners.

Guideline:

Positioning at the surface is critical, the user should to achieve with easiness the interface corners. 

Guideline Description:

The positioning of the user should allow to achieve with easiness the interface corners. Use of a adjustable chair contributes to a comfortable position for interacting throughout the surface.

Example:

An example of a correct posture of an older adult, using  an adjustable chair during a task.

Illustration adapted from Exploring the Accessibility and Appeal of Surface Computing for Older Adult Health Care Support

Source:

Exploring the Accessibility and Appeal of Surface Computing for Older Adult Health Care Support,2010
Design Principles to Accommodate Older Adults,2012

Tags:

Accessibility, Comfort, Elderly, Hardware, Motor, Multi-Touch, Testing.