David Williams writes about co-design for mobile devices.
The mobile user interface is becoming a key differentiator for mobile telephony devices and services. The increased focus on usable, emotive, and branded user interfaces is the result of three key drivers.
First, standardization of mobile platforms, networks, and screen technology allows the production of more-powerful handsets at lower cost.
Second, competition for the loyalty of mobile users is intense.
Finally, end users are demanding ever more easy-to-use services and devices especially as device/network features, and therefore complexity, increase.
“How does this collaborative model change the UI design process? Until recently, the user interface of mobile devices was researched, designed, developed, and tested by UI groups within manufacturers such as Nokia and Motorola. Development took place on proprietary software and hardware platforms…With the codesign model, design control must be shared with other organizations, e.g., operator design teams that are more likely to be in marketing groups or third-party application developers. These teams may be as well or better skilled to produce user interface designs but will have different design and commercial objectives.”
Link: Weaving Usability and Cultures: Co-Design, China, and the Commercialization of the Mobile User Interface (uigarden.net)
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