iPhone App Ergonomics
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This was initially going to be a post on the apparent bias found in some applications against left handed iPhone users. For instance, if the buttons that one needs to tap most frequently are found on the upper right side of the iPhone (as they are in Byline), the user is required to extend their thumb and reach across the iPhone in a way that can be very tiresome, if not painful, after a while.
As I was playing around with a number of different applications, however, I realized that it’s not so much an issue of left handed versus right handed but rather an issue of “application ergonomics”. That is… is the application’s interface designed in such a way that is easy and comfortable to use? Is the application comfortable to use, especially with something that requires repetitive movement?
The best example that I can think of is the difference between the design of the RSS readers NetNewsWire and Byline. As the video below shows, NetNewsWire is actually much easier to use while scrolling through numerous posts than Byline since the “next post” button on NetNewsWire is on the bottom center while Byline’s is in the upper right.
The most common repetition of movement with any RSS reader is scrolling through dozens, if not hundreds, of new posts. For example, on any given day I’ll have 300, 400, 500 posts to look through. If I am using my iPhone, advancing to each new post means another screen tap. The level of fatigue that occurs in my thumb whether holding the iPhone in my left hand, or my right hand, after a hundred or a hundred and fifty times is tremendous. But as bad as it is with the button on the bottom (NetNewsWire), when I have to reach across the iPhone as I do with Byline, it is even worse (if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m left handed). In other words, the placement of the button makes a huge difference.
Another example. Jott and Recall both include record functions in their excellent dictation/transcription applications. They are, however implemented quite differently. On Jott, the entire screen is the button. Tap the screen and a recording starts. Tap it again and the recording stops. Simple.
reQall, on the other hand, offers a small button in the lower portion of the screen that is, quite honestly, difficult to hit if you are on the go. In addition, Jott vibrates 5 sec before the end of the 30 second recording time. That way you actually know when the recording is coming to an end. Since there is no notification with reQall, one has to guess as to when 30 seconds is up. If you don’t, you might think you are recording when, in fact, you are not. The ergonomics of the interface make a huge difference in usability.
Both of these, however, don’t holding a candle to the voice recorder Note2Self from WebIS. Note2Self has implemented a design in which no on-screen ergonomics are needed at all. If you want to start a recording with it you simply bring the iPhone up to your face the way you would to make a phone call. The app then lets you know the recording has started by causing the phone to vibrate briefly. When you are done recording you simply lower the iPhone. This approach is simple, quick and foolproof. What could be easeier than not needing to tap at all?
Which leads to my ergonomic suggestion for a future RSS reader– How great would it be if there were an RSS reader that actually allowed you to move to the next post by simply shaking the iPhone? By using the accelerometer you could avoid the need to tap entirely. And no tapping means no finger fatigue after running through 570 new posts today!
When it comes to app ergonomics there’s a lot to be said for using the accelerometer or voice rather than screen tapping, especially in apps that require repetitive movements. It’s something developers might want to think about a bit more than many currently do.
