Although there is many way to assess user interface, but since my class project only asks for five most important criteria according to individual. So, this is most important criteria in my opinion required in a interface/device. In this case I’m assessing recently unveiled Windows Phone 7 from Microsoft, that I have introduced on last post.
1. Ease of Use
One of the great thing about Windows Phone 7 is easy to use. Phone divided into several parts of the main menu: People, Pictures, Games, Music + Video, Marketplace and Office. The menu is like a big application with broad panorama, which is not enough on one screen so the user must shift to the right and the left to see the whole application.
Windows Phone 7 has big, oversized, beautiful, bold, clear, and interactive icon, unlike every other phone in the market the menu filled with square arranged in a pattern like 4×4 or so. So it made this phone made easier to use, with big clear icon you no longer need to navigate carefully where you want to go, just a simple look at the screen and a touch. Moreover, the icon is dynamically updated according the application. So for instance, you have three new messages, you’ll be presented with number ‘3’ at top of the icon.
What makes Windows Phone 7 is interesting is it is integrated with live, real-time data seamlessly integrated, with smooth and more natural interface. The start screen is live, meaning it will dynamically updated with fresh content like weather, status updates, photos from facebook and you can totally customize it. So, you don’t have to open separate application just to see what your friend up to, just a simple glance at the screen. This is dream comes true for social networking geek.
2. Ergonomic
Office and Email
Yes, there will be an office application on Windows Phone 7. It will be connected to Cloud and can be synced to corporate server. So that means business people can read, create and edit their work while on the go.
The Outlook email is stunning, according to some people it’s much better than reading email on a BlackBerry. Text is huge, gorgeous, readable, and support Microsoft Exchange. Business people should be happy.
Browser
There will be Internet Explorer. Although the rumour says it’s going as fast as Mobile Safari. But at least it support multitouch. Bing and Bing Maps are built into the phone as default search engine and map provider.
3. Easy to Navigate
Microsoft radically upgraded the look and feel Windows Phone 7 from previous Windows mobile series. Gone the day when you need stylus to navigate the phone. Now it featuring unusual interface element that found on other phone in the market: Interface elements that run off the screen, oversized dynamically updated icon, fresh start screen. Although integrating unusual aspect, yet it’s still easy to navigate.
4. Easy to Learn
“Cognitive load” is one of the criteria to rate user interface. To use sophisticated programs like Windows Phone 7 users must drop all their OS concept, because Windows Phone 7 is all new experience for them. It’s necessary to provide smallest learning curve for users, because most of the time users don’t have necessary time to read manual. Human have limited capacity of working memory, users can only hold five to nine chunks of information simultaneously. Users may feel overwhelmed by numerous options that increase the cognitive load.
Thankfully, Windows Phone 7 provides original and what one Nike designers calls an “authentically digital” and “chromeless” experience. The whole looks is oversimplified which is good thing for this phone since the previous windows mobile series is famous for absurd menu and hard to use.
5. Information Representation
Microsoft has done a good word to put many features in Windows Phone 7 is an understandable form. The interface is elegantly designed to show as much information as possible to users. Users certainly able to find all the information they want in single screen.
For example, ‘people’ screen you not only can see your contacts but also their status update and photos from social networking sites.
In Music+ Video you’ll be able to see all your collection of music, video, podcast. More over you can opt to listening to radio or visiting a integrated marketplace where you can buy music or video.
