Technologies
The development of instruments for modern user interfaces is ongoing. Methods, like gestures or new coding languages both on the web (Javascript) and on the desktop (WPF), significantly enrich the established spectrum of interaction for the end user.
The Migration to Rich Internet Applications
The difference for users between web based and locally installed (native) programs is becoming blurred. The best example lies in web applications like Google Docs. They run exclusively online “in the cloud”, do not require installation, and offer an extensive range of functionality.
At the same time, the expectations of interactivity that have been created by years of familiarity with native programs are projected directly onto the web context. Users increasingly expect elaborate interactions like drag and drop or animated controls on the internet.
Additionally, the traditional sequential server-client interchange has softened. Instant error validation, parallel processes and particularly speed are just some of the advantages we apply together with our clients to create an exceptional user experience.
The Evolution of Thick Clients
Despite the rising significance of the web, native applications still have their place. In contexts like industry, the requirements of performance and thus of local computing power are high.
New technologies such as WPF, improvements in the Java-based Eclipse RCP, and the cross-platform framework QT offer numerous possibilities for creating modern products that are easy to learn and to handle.
The cooperation with ERGOSIGN was smooth, efficient and fun, which includes the analysis and planning phase. We especially liked the flexibility of the team, and are very satisfied with the results.”
Matthias Ettrich, Nokia Qt
Designer and Developer
These sophisticated technologies and their respective tools (e.g. Expression Blend) change the type of collaboration between designer and developer. Design and implementation no longer follow each other strictly consecutively, but now overlap using the concurrent engineering method. Gains in efficiency are achieved by adhering to a basic separation of roles.
Natural Interfaces
Besides traditional input devices like the mouse and the keyboard, so-called natural interactions (NUIs) such as direct manipulation via touch screens and voice control are gaining ground.
Multi-touch Interfaces
The introduction of multi-touch devices like Microsoft’s Surface table has led to a radical upheaval. Increasingly classic GUIs are not only complemented by NUIs, but are sometimes replaced entirely. This has the major advantage that users no longer need to learn abstract interaction languages and instead rely instinctively on their natural gestures.
ERGOSIGN helps its clients to introduce this fascinating interaction paradigm not only into consumer products but also into business and engineering contexts.
Touch-based Smartphones
While smartphones had been considered pure “business tools” for a long time, the iPhone provided the breakthrough for their mass adoption. The primary reason was certainly the touch control that has now grown from an initial USP to a de facto standard.
Dispensing with hard keys allows the display of any control on the screen and thus offers the ideal interface for the specific usage context.
ERGOSIGN supports clients from all sectors to develop the appropriate user experience for each mobile platform while maintaining the necessary consistency across all media. (See the NWB Mobile case study.)
Voice Interfaces
Until recently, voice-based interfaces were limited to certain selected niches. Through improved performance and quality, these days voice control, voice output and text-to-speech are widely distributed. However, the success of these technologies in daily life depends on many factors. A harmonious coordination with other forms of interaction is important. ERGOSIGN conducts special usability tests for this and advises you in the selection of appropriate off-the-shelf software.
We are happy to develop audicons for you, i.e. sound files that acoustically emphasize functions and states as icons do on the visual side.
HMI and SCADA
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) outlines the concept of monitoring and controlling technical processes. Hereby the ergonomic design of the Human Machine Interface (HMI) is a crucial factor.
Besides requiring a thorough analysis phase the industrial context often dictates a deeper understanding for the underlying technologies. At the same time the wish for very modular and flexible frameworks plays heavily into the user interface.
Consequently ERGOSIGN started early to gain know-how in the most popular development environments such as INOSOFT VisiWinNET, CopaData zenon or Siemens SIMATIC WinCC to offer the best support to customers and developers.
