Information appliances and beyond

Features

• Begins with an interview in which design expert Don Norman details his vision of "making technology invisible."
• Includes an eight-page, full-color insert containing screen shots, product diagrams, and other illustrations.
• Presents inside accounts of information appliance success stories including:
  • An interview with Rob Haitani, lead interaction designer of the original PalmPilot
  • The design and evaluation methodologies behind Nokia's mobile phones
  • The high-level information appliance design considerations emphasized by Sun Microsystems
• Essential reading for interaction designers, human factors engineers, usability specialists, software engineers and project managers working in all of these areas.

Table of contents

Introduction

Eric Bergman, Sun Microsystems

A high level overview of the burgeoning field of information appliance and consumer product interaction design. Provides a brief commentary on the various chapters in the book, and the themes that bind them together.

A Conversation with Don Norman Eric Bergman, Sun Microsystems & Don Norman, Nielsen Norman Group

Don Norman discusses his notion of the "Invisible Computer" and why he believes that information appliances are the best alternative to the complexity of current interactive devices.

Design Considerations for Information Appliances Mike Mohageg & Annette Wagner, Sun Microsystems

Two senior members of the Sun Microsystems Consumer User Experience Group describe the high level issues that the team considers when designing products for consumer users. The chapter has a special focus on set top box and internet phone appliances.

Designing Information Appliances at Netpliance Scott Isensee, Ken Kalinoski, Karl Vochatzer

Explains the "Netpliance" philosophy, and the design challenges and processes involved in creating the total user experience - hardware software and services - for a line of information appliances. This chapter has a particular focus on scaling content and UI to support devices of varying capabilities.

Designing the Palm Pilot: A Conversation with Robert Haitani Eric Bergman, Sun Microsystems & Robert Haitani, Handspring

Robert Haitani, design lead for the original Palm Pilot project, talks about the evolution of the product from a simple block of wood to perhaps the first and arguably most commercially successful information appliance.

Interaction Design and Usability of Microsoft Windows CE Sarah Zuberec, Microsoft Corporation

Focuses on how Windows CE was designed and tested, and the challenges Microsoft faced in retaining a Windows identity while evolving to fit in a consumer device environment.

The EPOC User Interface in the Psion Series 5 Nick Healey, Slash Design Ltd.

The author provides guidance about design considerations and processes as applied to personal digital assistants with issues and examples from the Psion line of personal digital assistants.

Designing Mobile Phones and Communicators at Nokia Kaisa Vaananen-Vainio-Mattila and Satu Ruuska, Nokia Research

A view into the challenges of designing for users who don't have time, attention, or a display that users of many other small devices might expect. The authors provide case studies that illustrate Nokia's design and evaluation methodologies, as well as the design and usability issues raised in their target environment.

Designing the User Interface for a Vehicle Navigation System: A Case Study Aaron Marcus, Aaron Marcus & Associates

A case study of a vehicle navigation system designed for Motorola. Provides interesting insight into the challenges of designing for users on the move.

Interactive plush characters as social interfaces Erik Strommen, Microsoft Corporation

An overview of the theory and design behind the development of Microsoft's interactive plush toys, with case studies of different toys developed for different ages, including how user testing with children influenced the product's design.

Design Lessons from Interactive Games Chuck Clanton, Aratar

An analysis of games that explores how good design creates a seductive experience with an inviting challenge ramp and compelling game play. The author discusses the implications for consumer oriented user interfaces in non-game environments.

Interactive Persuasion with Netsmart Devices B.J. Fogg, Persuasive Technology Lab, Stanford University

Discusses how netsmart devices-- specialized, embedded, and networked computer technologies --might be integrated into people's daily routines to motivate and persuade.