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<concept id="GUID-F4F3A37A-AB0C-47B8-A538-C05F1CA73BF3" xml:lang="en"><title>Touch-enabled

vs. touch-optimized</title><prolog><metadata><keywords/></metadata></prolog><conbody>

<section id="GUID-5A2B0210-EE1A-4B8F-A714-F7CA1EC2B1EA"> <p>Rather than being

touch-enabled, certain applications can be touch-optimized, that is, designed

primarily for touch screen interaction. When developing applications for a

touch interface, the first question you should ask is: which interactions

benefit the most from touch UI? While physical strokes and gestures allow

for more natural interaction with objects, the fact that one can apply them

does not mean they are appropriate for every situation. </p> <p>There are

a few good tips when designing applications for touch use. First, it is imperative

that design decisions are based on real, considered touch use cases. Secondly,

as touch functions require a fair amount of discovery from the user, it is

good if only very obvious functions are made touch-enabled. </p> <p><b>Why

to use touch</b></p><ul>

<li><p><b>More flexible:</b> Compared to fixed hardware keys, the interface

can change dynamically. This allows for more flexible configurations depending

on the functionality needs, languages, and so on. Thus a very small screen

can change its buttons as needed. Also, with indirect strokes and gestures,

there are numerous possibilities. No use of physical buttons is required.</p><fig id="GUID-63BE4283-7856-4448-9058-99E286C2EA65">

<image href="GUID-EC366CB0-AFC8-4501-867C-4FBD2CFE6235_d0e71938_href.png" scale="60" placement="inline"/>

</fig></li>

<li><p><b>More intuitive:</b> Manipulating objects directly by touching them

is natural and intuitive. Keyboards, mice, trackballs, and other input devices

are not able to convey as much subtlety as touch can. Direct manipulation

can deliver a lot more meaning to controlling a tool. </p></li>

<li><p><b>More fun:</b> One can design a game in which users press a button

and an onscreen avatar swings a tennis racket. But it can be simply more entertaining

to mimic movements physically, and to see the action mirrored on-screen. Strokes

and gestures encourage play and exploration of a system by providing a more

hands-on experience. </p></li>

<li><p><b>More engaging:</b> Through play, users start to engage with the

interface, first by trying it out to see how it works. </p></li>

</ul><p><b>Limitations of touch</b></p><ul>

<li><p><b>Heavy data input:</b> A hardware keyboard is faster for most people

to use when entering a large amount of text or numbers, and applications which

involve heavy data input are not necessarily ideal for touch devices. Virtual

keyboards are adequate, for example, for messaging applications. Consider

utilizing adaptive methods - such as options and selections filtered according

to what is available on the screen or in a list - and pre-filled items, when

possible.</p></li>

<li><p><b>Reliance on the visual:</b> While the Symbian OS provides

tactile feedback capability, some applications can rely heavily on visual

feedback to indicate actions. Allow for scalability, larger buttons and text

sizes, for example, for visually impaired users.</p></li>

<li><p><b>Reliance on the physical: </b>Touch interface can be more demanding

on the physical context than mechanical keys. Tapping a touch screen button

while wearing winter gloves, or with long fingernails can be difficult, for

instance. The inverse is also true: the more subtle and small the movement,

the less likely it is that everyone will be able to do it. To overcome this,

the most basic use cases, such as answering an incoming phone call, must utilize

large enough elements and straightforward interaction.</p></li>

</ul></section>