Wearable technology at its best: 8 guidelines for that excellent user interface

Wearable technology has taken on the revolutionary trend through Bluetooth, smart glasses, smart watches and the like. What seems more interesting is that the extensive use of wearable apps has led to greater revolution of the app development industry most significant aspect being the user interface of the devices dealing in this technology. Listed below are a few guidelines which will indefinitely help you in choosing the best of the user interfaces.

Design – It’s Important!

User interface should always be kept simple with minimalistic features to impart an extra professional look. A sleek and elegant design serves as major criteria to help the user decide whether he can use it or not. First impression always matters. Moreover the quality of the user interface is marked by the high quality design solution that helps the corresponding technology not only stand out and speak volumes for its purpose, but also create the perfect environment in which other features can be successfully integrated in the same.

Highly exclusive themes with unique creative ideas attract the users and also help to retain the corresponding technology for a longer duration. There is a difference- the design for Bluetooth devices should be different from the design for smart glasses because of its varying functionality and the corresponding scope. Same goes for other devices too.

One Size – Not the Ideal Solution

An important factor to note when it comes to the revolutionary wearable technology is that the screen size varies and is often availed in more than one particular frame. One cannot apply the mobile UI to a wearable technology. The screen size is small and the design needs to be more specific about the inclusions. Also, the requirements of wearable devices are comparatively different from the mobile technology in terms of power specifications, screen resolution, etc. Obviously if people wanted a similar interface to the devices they have been using so far, why would they even think about wearable devices? Think about it!

Optimize Compatibility With The Platform

It is highly essential to optimize the user interface of the given app as per the platform specifications. Wrong platform right interface often leads to a big disaster, thus ultimately causing the user to sulk away and finally get rid of the corresponding app. So, it is essential to keep the screen types and the given platform closely correlated with the wearable interface to have the apps successful and running for better popularity.

The perfect example to highlight this significant compatibility issue is to consider an iOS interface working on an android platform. Most of the apps that are developed considering this interface do not get the necessary executables to function efficiently in the corresponding platform. Hence a total disaster!

Security Requirements

An IOS interface is considered highly secured with encryption feasibilities at the user end. The same applicability towards the wearable technology is a must to ensure that full user privacy is maintained. When designing a user interface for the wearables, it is highly recommended to exercise multi layer security to ensure hassle free usage/communication as per the functionality of the same.

Preferable layer of security include link security, cloud security and the most important of all- device security. These levels of security should be closely intertwined to protect the system software as well as the hardware from malware issues and ensure better security features towards the corresponding users. An efficient security system for the corresponding interface of the wearable ensures greater user preference on the whole.

Think Out Of the Box

True, this is quite unexpected. However if you consider from the user point of view, any wearable technology that launches in the market, has to be some out of the box solution. You can consider examples of GPS based gaming applications that have taken over the recent market trends. These have successfully created an enigma in the gaming field. It is highly advisable to keep the end user point of view in consideration when you are designing anything that requires popular acceptance in the given market.

People look for something new in the technology that is being developed. This “something new” can range from a highly creative user interface of the corresponding wearable or any such app that allows facilitation of ease in the daily lives of the people at large.

Enable Power Optimization

Users are often most ticked away by the extreme power drainage due to the apps incorporated into the corresponding technology at use. Make sure that your app does not simply consume the whole power. This may inadvertently cause the user to snap and uninstall the whole thing at the click of a button. Obvious is the reason that no one would like to move forward with any technology that is not destined to sustain for a longer period of time.

Hence, keep the layout of the interface in a basic design approach with definite streamlined maintenance and less storage requirements. This way, the power consumption issue is overcome to make the app successful enough to come into the good terms of the end user.

Keep Minimalistic Intrusion

When the criteria of wearable technology come into consideration, it is advisable to keep those irritating notifications at bay. Simply intruding the life of the end user with innumerable notifications throughout the day can cause the users to lose interest in the corresponding app. Much likely, due to the constant contact of the wearables with the body of the end user, a constant beep or vibration can ultimately lead to irritation. Hence, it is highly recommended to test your technology through rigorous methodologies to ensure hassle proof maintenance.

Also, enable the user full control of the features they expect to incorporate in their wearables. Consider turning off reminders or muting the notifications with just a click- seems more appropriate as per the user requirements right?

One more essential requirement when it comes to wearable technology interface requirements is that it should be enticing enough to the user to help them navigate the whole app without getting frustrated at being stuck at particular option. Hence keep it highly user friendly.

Ensure Enough Predictability

Though it is highly essential to bring something new to fascinate the users and keep them all crazy about your technology, it pays to have it predictive enough to actually establish the user that he/she can actually use the same. Consider for examples, the application that you have developed is a chat application which also enables the users to instantly call the other person. A native call icon establishes a confidential direction in the users to ensure that your technology is actually what he/she is familiar with. Familiarity with any technology helps the users to make more use of the app thus achieving your development objectives.

An important tip: Try not to make it too familiar enough. Give the user an impression of using something new yet something that doesn’t require great expertise.

Wearable technology is a completely different arena and requires expert attention to details to have a successful achievement of objectives of the corresponding technology. Ensuring that one follows the above mentioned guidelines, it is highly probable that the technology shall have a better user acclamation on the larger scale.

Technology is varied in its aspects. What makes it amazing is how well its built with the corresponding user interface. The popularity of the existing technologies is purely based on this concept and it’s highly recommended that one adhere to the guidelines to have a massive success and amazing popularity amongst the end users.