Wireless Charging is a Reality today, it was first conceived by me in the 90s. The first page published related to that in my netscape site.
This was an idea for Apps like Browser and Email..This is for any device phone or laptop a user interface for people who need it like when Cooking or Driving. People with disabilities or injuries. BlackBerry Phone had a nice incorporation of the text to action.
i had tough time filling a online form. Here are some points, many know already, but new ones need to be instructed again. Especially so in customer service online forms or apps.
Make all the fill up text boxes ample, not cramped. Message area needs to be wide and long. Not an excuse of a square, where you can only say "Hello". Do not insist on all details an Email is enough.
If the form has validation or capthca, may it have memory. The user need not fill everything all over again for one error. Make validation intelligent and after three submits, take what customer gives, even if it appears to be a riddle.
Most of us, even me when i made/sold products, do not like the "Return". This is not healthy, Customer support must be proactive, enthusiastic and like some say Fanatic. A brand survives and sells itself only on Genuine Customer Support. Just communication or Half-Hearted attention will not work for very long.
I once worked in Tek for a very short period. I got to experience the 2235 and 2465 analog scopes and their controls. The 2465 was a 400 MHz Digitally Controlled Analog Scope.
I also used the Plugin System Scopes and Calibration systems; these were Tek Culture and Tech contribution to the Instrumentation world, it probably evolved into VXI-PXI as uC systems took over.
I also had a chance to look at DSO/Logic Analyzers and the just developed TDS Series. The older tek analog scopes made me understand about usability and panel layouts. Many controls are inevitable in a Analog Scope with Electromechanical Interface.
In a Digital World that can be largely changed using the Monitor and Trackballs. The older BlackBerry phones are also good study for usability before Touch Screens came.
I wanted to realize usability of controls within a small footprint. This lead to some innovations. These are JavaScript and CSS Clock Widgets originally made for my webpage later improved and decorated. Now available as web widgets.
Date Time Clock Widgets
When i found the Remote controls and the early mobile phones difficult to use. I felt i have to try to design user interface within a small footprint. This helped me innovate a Active or Dynamic GUI concept; as shown in the Ability to change the skins of the Audio Music player and Digital Alarm Clock. The metronome too see the other project in this profile. These were done around 2005-6-7. Both for elements on my site and gadgets.
Digital Seven Segment Clock Gadget
Aircraft Dashboard Clock Mimic Gadget
Digital Alarm Clock Gadget - I also made a Virtual Web Gadget Alarm Clock Simulation that will demonstrate a Dynamic GUI in a Limited Facia Area.
Conclusions -
Reduce the number of operations a user would do at achieve a purpose. Auto, Intuitive, Context Gui. When a Customer comes to buy Trousers, Take him to the Trouser Corner. Do not show Tuxedo option. The colors have good contrast and the text clearly visible.
A Highlighted reaction to user action. Tactile. Dynamic GUI, see in Gadgets above. GUI Elements appear only for that sequence of actions. No clutter. Menus if used, should not get stuck. Should not be fidgety, should not be menus at all if possible.
Engineering, Interaction Design, UI/UX