October 9, 2006
Section 4: Why do an RIADesigning an RIA
October 9, 2006
Why?● Simply put … because you can.● There is very little “should” here● Looking back at John Maeda’s Laws of
Simplicity – Always question the addition of anything,
even if it leads to the reduction of something else.
Let’s look deeper at some good reasons why.
October 9, 2006
Hello! Humans are Emotional
Don Norman’s Emotional Design
Your emotional state when using a product will effect not just your enjoyment of it, but your effectiveness (at least perceptual) with it.
“Attractive Things Work Better” is the very title of the first chapter.
October 9, 2006
Location, Location, Location
That works for real estate …
… for UX Designers …
Context, Context, Context
October 9, 2006
Intuitive ?● Creating an intuitive application is all
about matching expectations of the user.
● Understanding the context of use is the best way to come as close as possible to do that.
● The desktop is a constant. The Operating System is the heart and soul of the desktop experience.
October 9, 2006
Legacy of the Web ?● Strong legacy with web metaphors
– Back button (or just “history”)– Hyperlink
October 9, 2006
RIAs offer Hybridization● Toyota can’t have all the fun …
● Big challenges for designers, but the end-game is worth the effort.
Yahoo Mail BetaFlickr
October 9, 2006
Learnability● Understanding where I was and where
I’m going.● Having the RIGHT information at the
right time, with the right supporting information.
October 9, 2006
Security● Using windowing enhances security
– I know that I really didn’t leave– I know when I’m done I’ll be going back to
where I started
● Security allows for more risk taking
October 9, 2006
Managing Complexity
Discoverability● Use scent to guide people● Hide complexity to avoid overwhelming
people with too much content● Richness allows for fluidity and better
invitations
Baby Name Wizard
October 9, 2006
Power of Movement● Sometimes contrasts in color, shape,
alignment are not enough● Moving objects catch our eyes and our
mind’s attention
● Time is perception– Motion (and change) = activity– Perception of system working if not faster,
at least working for my benefit.
Yahoo! Maps (beta)
October 9, 2006
Playful● Using your hands in multiple ways● Novelty through animation and
discoverability● Engagement leads to productivity
Designing Powerful Web Applications with AJAX & Other RIAs
October 9, 2006
Design (Big ‘D’)“I design software”
“I’m wearing designer jeans”
“interaction design”
“design school”
“That design looks cool”
Designing Powerful Web Applications with AJAX & Other RIAs
October 9, 2006
What is “design”?● Design as noun (I like that “design”)
– Is the result of a conceived idea, whether or not it was actually “designed”
● Design as verb (I “design” software)– A process of creativity– Non-linear– Assumes there is more than one elegant
solution to any single problem– Considers the measurable and the aesthetic
Designing Powerful Web Applications with AJAX & Other RIAs
October 9, 2006
Making Design (verb) Work
● Divergent thinking– Skew, bend, melt, tear … change!
● Evaluation is separate from Ideation– Put your judge on hold
● Multiple minds
● Model, Model, Model (AKA: sketch, sketch, sketch)
● Taking the road least traveled can bring you back to the freeway– Process ideas in disconnected ways
– Connect disconnected ideas in separate exercise
Designing Powerful Web Applications with AJAX & Other RIAs
October 9, 2006
Exercise: Criteria From Section 1
● Criteria for the design– Application Service (Hosted)
● Infinite Audience● Business-to-Business community
– File Management System● Moving lots of files
– Collaborative
– Media Centric
● Criteria for Development– Old-school software engineering;
– Highly formally educated group
Designing Powerful Web Applications with AJAX & Other RIAs
October 9, 2006
Exercise: Moving forward● Need to share corporate media objects
across different enterprises● Need to collaborate on these objects
– Annotate– Version– Append
● Need to publish out to 3rd parties
Don’t worry we aren’t doing this whole application …
Designing Powerful Web Applications with AJAX & Other RIAs
October 9, 2006
Exercise: AnnotateDesign a set of screens that make up
one page
1. Displays both a list objects and single object
2. Allows the user to comment on that object
3. Track commenting
4. Annotate on media directly
5. Create a collection and “send” that collection
Designing Powerful Web Applications with AJAX & Other RIAs
October 9, 2006
Things to think about● Manage complexity through progressive
presentation● Motion aids learnability● Prirotize information and tasks within a
single context● “Do I need a new context?” “Why?”
“Why not?”● “What is the nature of my data for this
context?”
October 9, 2006
Questions ?
Resources:Dave’s Blog:
www.synapticburn.comBill’s Blog:
looksgoodworkswell.blogspot.com
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