Designing Mobile Interfaces

Part IV. Input and Output

The varying ways in which people prefer to interact with their devices highly depend upon their natural tendencies, their comfort levels, and the context of use. As designers and developers, we need to understand these influences and offer user interfaces that appeal to these needs.

User preferences may range from inputting data using physical keys, natural handwriting, or other gestural behaviors. Some users may prefer to receive information with an eyes-off-screen approach, and instead relying on haptics or audible notifications.

This part of the book will discuss in detail the different mobile methods and controls users can interact with to access and receive information.

The types of input and output we will discuss are subdivided into the following chapters:

• Chapter 9

• Chapter 10

• Chapter 11

• Chapter 12

• Chapter 13

Types of Input and Output

Text and Character Input

Whether they are sending an email, sending an SMS message, searching, or filling out forms, users require ways to input both text and characters. Such methods may be through keyboards and keypads, as well as pen control. Regardless, these methods must work very efficiently in performance while limiting input errors.

General Interactive Controls

Functions on the device and in the interface are influenced by a series of controls. They may be keys arrayed around the periphery of the device, or they may be controlled by gestural behaviors. Users must be able to find, understand, and easily learn these control ...