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Design Principles
Touch. This concept prototype for Firefox mobile (code name Fennec) is being designed for a touch screen. Why not multitouch? Because Firefox should be able to run on the least common denominator of touch devices. Especially for touch-enabled interfaces direct manipulation is key. Along that line of thought, the interface should be operable with a finger. Switching between input methods is time-consuming and annoying, so the user shouldn’t have to switch to a stylus or other secondary form of input. Firefox will work on non-touchscreen devices, but that’s out of scope for this demo.
Large targets are good. The same fingertip that controls the interface takes up between 1/5th to 1/10th of the vertical/horizontal height/width of the mobile touch-screen. In other words, fingers are fat: hitting small targets is like trying to touch-type with your elbow. All actions should be represented by targets that are large enough to be fast, easy, and (at the very least) not aggravating to hit.
Visual Momentum and Physics are compelling. Nothing shouts “sexy!” like pretty animations and a physics engine. Beyond marketing appeal, there is a strong argument that such physicality helps the user build a mental model of the interface, and that interface physics yields consistency. We are wired to track the movement of things and to be able to remember where they’ve gone, as long as they don’t appear and disappear, which doesn’t happen in the real world. Of course, copying every physical metaphors blindly gets you interfaces like the multi-million dollar blunder that was Microsoft Bob, so we need to select our metaphors carefully.
Typing is difficult. This means we want to minimize the amount of keystrokes required to get anywhere or do anything.
Content is king. With restricted screen size, every pixel counts. As much of the screen as possible should always be dedicated to content, not controls or cruft.
VIDEO detailing the features.
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Posted: 2008-06-13 07:10:46
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