Psychology of Technology: UI For U or I
The comments on David (Special) K’s thread, What’s Your UI?, have certainly been illuminating
for no other reasons than the sheer number of UI’s used and the zeal that people have for them. This discussion has led me to consider what it is about UIs that attract different people to different UIs. I have identified five dimensions that seem to be relevant in choosing a UI.
The first dimension that struck me is perhaps the most obvious, namely, functionality. Different people have different needs. For some, it is a business tool to maximize efficiency through email, contacts, and calendars. For others, it is a toy for entertainment, with an emphasis on music, Internet, texting, and photos. And for still others, the smartphone is, well, a phone. Each set of needs requires a different type of UI that best satisfies those needs.
Another dimension is actually a continuum that runs from simplicity to complexity. This issue involves both set up of the UI and its use. Some people like very simple UI’s that require little to no set up and very few steps to use their smartphone. Because most people are not tech savvy, the vast majority of users of smartphones want simplicity. This observation explains much of the immense popularity of the iPhone. It’s readily understandable—you just push an icon and something happens—ready to use right out of the box. And iPhone’s competitors aren’t getting the message. Yes, Nokia, HTC, Samsung, Toshiba, and other manufacturers are making hardware that is superior to the iPhone, but they apparently haven’t figured out that it is the UI that may ultimately determine who buys what device. And it seems pretty clear that, however simplistic or inelegant the iPhone UI is (basically it’s just an app launcher), its popularity suggests that this is what most people want.
Related to complexity is customizability. Some smartphone users like to, as Bitbucket noted, 
“have it their way;” just like choosing Burger King over McDonald’s (take note though that McDonald’s, like the iPhone, is most popular despite its lack of “customizability” of its food). But, because of the pervasive pressure to be unique these days a high degree of individual customization seems to be in order. UIs like SPB Mobile Shell and PointUI offer the ability to create personal configurations that can fit any users’ needs, but, as several commenters have noted, they require considerable time and effort to “tweak” them just so. I can certainly attest to the many hours I put in to get my Fuze just so.
One more dimension that seems to be of importance is efficiency which is translated into being able to launch an application in the fewest number of maneuvers. For example, on my Fuze running TF3D2, I’m able to directly access more than 15 applications through the touch screen and physical buttons with just one touch. And thanks to the iPhone Today and Manila Today Page, I can access my most popular programs in one touch and a swipe or two.
The final dimension that few if any UIs have really gotten right is the aesthetic. People just love a certain look; it makes people feel special. The challenge for UI developers is that appearance is highly personal; for every person there is a different aesthetic. Clearly, the iPhone got the hardware aesthetic right as confirmed by the legions of clone phones marching over the horizon these days. But no one has completely nailed the UI aesthetic. Perhaps the future winner of the UI wars will be the company that develops a UI that is incredibly simple, yet is also highly customizable. Just think of the time and effort put into individualized ring tones and phone cases these days. There’s little doubt that a UI that is uniquely and simply yours will be the next great fashion—and function—statement in mobile technology.
So have I missed anything here? Let me know.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Adam The biggest thing that gets me on WM is the lag. I can cook a brand new 6.5 and have virtually nothing running on it, just he basics and my Fuze will be operating at 24% memory… and I go to open up my documents or pictures THATS NO MY PHONE, NOT STORAGE CARD and it still takes 10-15 seconds to load up the first page (about 12 pictures) let alone waiting for the whole thing to load.
Nancy A Huber Great article..I spent a week just recently trying to tweak my UI for the Fuze…was so tired of it that I went out and bought an Iphone as a toy (would never meet my daily needs..but a nice toy for photos, music, social networking, great screen size)
It seems that every device I buy the UI is more complicated and it takes more “taps” to get to what I need
David K What still strikes me is if you look at the polls the iphone clones did not do well. If it’s so good for so many, why do WM users reject them? I personally think they’re underpowered, yet people complain the WM UI’s are too complex and don’t just install a UI that matches the iphone. Winterface is a good mix – it looks iPhony but the shortcuts are more functional (like speed dial a contact) and even that was only around 5%. Still- if the iphone interface seems so damn good then why don’t we use it? I personally think it stinks (it’s just an app launcher) but it’s hard to explain why we have 20 UI’s and no one is happy and they have 1 and they’re giddy with joy…
As for speed, I count 2 seconds to open a pic on a stock Fuze ROM. Unlike the iPhone we don’t have a splash screen to distract from load times…it’s smart marketing but in actual use a lot of their apps take the same time- they just get a pretty pic of an Apple logo and we get the spinning wheel…
drjim @Nancy: Thanks for the kind words. And I can relate. Sometimes I think I want to chuck my Fuze for an iPhone, but after writing my previous PofT article, I can’t be seen dead with one!
@DavidK: I think there is a strong selection bias here, meaning that the people who answer the poll are biased against the iPhone and for tweaking and apping, so the poll isn’t an representative sample. I think if you polled John and Joan Q. Mobilephone (pronounced mobeelphonay, a French name!), you would get a strong leaning for the iPhone UI. Let’s be honest, it may be just an app launcher but most people don’t even know enough to think anything else might be better.
Also, isn’t every UI just an “app launcher?” You’ve made the pejorative comment about the iPhone UI several times to me, but I never understood how TF3D2 or SPB MS is different.
David K I tested a lot of UI’s on a Jane Q- my wife:) She’s not into technology and used to keep asking why I didn’t get her an iPhone:) I think she’s sold now but she’s not like me:) She actually is using TF3D. The benefit is things like the previews- flick through emails without going into them…and same with texts, photos, etc. Just sort of nice to have a mini-overview at your fingertips without going into an app then exiting it to go back home. You also get the benefit of all of your quick launches (both apps and speed dials) as well as settings all a flick away. In the end I’m just underwhelmed by merely an app launcher (which I still think is the same as the original Palm Treo 600 from years ago).
The Jack of Clubs ill prolly get an iphone in the future. it may be my next phone. they keep coming down in price and do more and more things. in a couple years ill prolly pay negative for the iphone 4g-s-gt-x-extreme and itll have an app to drive my car for me and dispense fresh pancakes. but until then ill have a phone i can fully customize and upgrade on my own time etc etc.
jimski @drjim: “Also, isn’t every UI just an “app launcher?” You’ve made the pejorative comment about the iPhone UI several times to me, but I never understood how TF3D2 or SPB MS is different.”
I think DavidK hit the nail on the head. TF3D has come a long way from the traditional WM Today Screen. Using TF3D, with a flick a user can preview the things they use every day (email, texts, weather, contacts, appointments/tasks). And all without launching an application.
I look for a good mix of all the dimensions in a UI; functionality, efficiency, customization and asethetics. TF3D may not excel, but scores well in each category, making for a well rounded UI.
drjim @jimski & David K: I see now. Jimski’s thoughts make a lot of sense and explain my attraction to TF3D2. A solid, well-rounded UI. Works for me!
FarTed @Adam:
Increase your cache size and your filter cache size. If you’re going to be a ram-miser, then you’re going to have to live with poor performance. Jeez, if your only running 24% ram usage, you should expect things to be slow. Use your ram, it makes things like opening up folders and displaying icons/thumbnails much faster.
bitbucket … McD’s has a better fries. They don’t use veggie oil (what’s up with that?)
Actually, this last year I discovered 5 Guys. Best. Fries. Ever.
a good read. is it weird i like the complexity of wm and thats why i head back to them as a phone? i definitely cant recommend wm phones to anyone i know because of that. i do recommend iphones though because of their simplicity but i dont think thats why they are popular. i think it was originally the fact that it was an ipod that was a phone and now because it is the iphone. its a fashion item. i will say that aesthetics are a big push. eye candy goes a far way even it has no functionality.