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Never understood why phones lack an easy understandable menu structure. Lets take idle screen – what is it? Is a “homepage” for the whole menu? Is a part of the menu? Is it something completely different? In most of the current interfaces it’s impossible to tell. Because of this and other UI glitches the users don’t have a clear mental model of the interface. They just know that if they press joystick once, push down twice and press again they would get to the calendar (for example).
The first interface I remember with an easy understandable mental model was in the promo pictures of Ericsson T39. The idle screen was a part of the menu (the funny thing is the real T39 interface was a little different than the one in promo pictures).
Another thing I miss in interfaces is a possibility to “zoom out” and see the comprehensive spatial map of the menu structure and I don’t mean a visual representation of tree structure containing over 100 terminals.
Here’s an example of simple interface with clear mental model – all screens are on “the same level”. The idle screen share the same “surface” as other screens and is in the middle. You can zoom out to get the spatial map of the menu, select the necessary screen and zoom back. Or you can pan to any direction in “zoomed” mode.
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I remember something similar has been done long ago foe the web: check http://www.relevare.com.
Perhaps Flash Lite will bring this into the mobile space...? |
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| atomictag | February 20, 2006 03:45 AM |
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oh, thanks! I was trying to remember the address of this site, when writing the post. a great example of zoom interface. and if I remember correctly Frog Design had a flash site with similar concept.
yes, I have great expectations of upcoming Flash Lite interfaces. Some new LG slider has it, waiting for full review. |
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| Eugeniu Clim | February 20, 2006 06:39 AM |
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my mistake - it's not frog design, but frost design
http://www.frostdesign.com.au/ |
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| Eugeniu Clim | February 20, 2006 07:33 AM |
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| Regarding this web site (Frost design), I personally think it's a good example of how bad a UI can be. It's extremely difficult to figure out what is the "content" of each link. The UI is "fun", but not effective..... |
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| Thomas Landspurg | February 21, 2006 02:19 AM |
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| I agree - engaging but unusable. But it's not because the concept is bad, it's because they made it in such way. |
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| Eugeniu Clim | February 21, 2006 02:50 AM |
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I find this discussion very exciting, in part, because you articulate the importance of a clear mental model to overall user experience. It's not just the hardware that creates the experience!
I find it surprisingly difficult for many people to appreciate the important role of a great UI. You express it well! |
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| Sarah Lipman | February 23, 2006 06:18 AM |
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