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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>Applications can

be designed primarily for touch screen interaction (touch-optimized) instead

of being touch-enabled. While developing applications for a touch interface,

the design considerations must be based on interactions that benefit the most

from touch UI. Physical strokes and gestures allows natural interaction with

objects but must be used appropriately. </p><p>Following are few useful tips

that can be used when designing applications for touch interface: <ul>

<li><p>Design decisions must be based on real-time touch use cases.</p></li>

<li><p>Only obvious functions can be made touch-enabled. </p></li>

</ul></p><p>Following are the important features of touch:</p><ul>

<li><p><b>Flexibility</b> - Virtual keyboard provides more flexibility than

fixed hardware keys. The dynamically changing interface allows for flexible

configurations depending on the functionality requirements, languages, and

so on. Also, indirect strokes and gestures provide flexibility reducing the

need for physical buttons.</p><fig id="GUID-30369880-1F00-440E-A12C-2C75511FDEE8">

</fig></li>

<li><p><b>Intuitive</b> - Manipulating objects directly by touching them is

natural and intuitive. Touch interface allows better real-time experience

for end users. Strokes and gestures encourage play and exploration of a system

by providing a more hands-on experience.</p></li>

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

<li><p><b>Data input</b> - touch devices are not ideal for applications involving

huge data entry. 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> - Although the Symbian platform provides

tactile feedback capability, some applications rely more 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. Subtle and small movements are

less likely to be achieved. For example, tapping a touch screen

button while wearing winter gloves or with long fingernails can be difficult.

To overcome this limitation, the basic use cases, such as answering an incoming

phone call, must utilize large elements and simple interaction.</p></li>

</ul></section>

</conbody></concept>