Human-Computer Interface Elements in iOS 7

As a follow up to my previous blog about the iOS 7 interface as observed in the beta, I thought I should discuss a couple of specific elements of iOS 7 that break good human-computer interface design.

There are some things to like about iOS 7. Clutter has been greatly reduced, and it appears that information may [?] be more logically arranged and connected. Plus, the under-the-hood improvements in memory and multi-tasking management will improve user experience.

My greatest concern has been the suitability of elements in meeting the needs of most users. Is Apple designing the new interface while chasing new Windows Mobile and Android interfaces? Have Apple designers forgotten the lesson of human-computer design learned over the past 30 years?

I have previously asked if these designs are intended to sell iDevices in the stores, rather than meet the needs of the users. And, I won't delve into the issues of skeuomorphism and the poor definition used by many bloggers; see my previous blog for that discussion.

If the beta designs are used as evidence, it might be concluded these new elements were designed by 20-something, right handed males with 20-20 eyesight.

Good interface design takes into account the differences implied by this statement. For example, researchers have studied the differences between men and women with respect to using computers and performing tasks. They have found men are better at spatial perception, and women are better at language. Some of these ideas have been pointed out on the Brain Games episodes on the National Geographic channel.

A study years ago revealed these differences, although I have never found this study referenced on the Internet. In the study small groups of men and women were given several pages of text to memorize. Although told they would have up to two hours for the memorization efforts, groups were interrupted at significantly shorter periods.

Asked what they could remember about the text, men remembered text passages in relation to visual stimuli, such as a small stain on the page or a bent corner. Women remembered facts based on language and emotional content. "that fact was mentioned in the paragraph that described the conflicts between negotiators."

Of course, not all men and all women have these traits, but these are tendencies. This points out that people are different and react to different types of stimuli.

So, one of the interface problems in the beta iOS 7 is the reduction of buttons, labels and icons to a single type of interface. Graphic only versus text only.

There are icons supported by text labels in iOS 6, but many unsupported icons iOS 7. Icons clearly understood in 6 are too simplified in 7, their meaning is obscured. One version of the share icon is so simple, no one could know the meaning of the graphic. And some icons not simplified, yet changed and now obscure in meaning. This has negative impact on the discoverability and learnability of an interface.

There are now buttons that are just text labels and do not look like buttons. This type of button does not meet the needs of the user as described by Fitt's Law. As discussed by Bruce Tognazinni <http://www.asktog.com>, Fitt's Law described the increased difficulty when trying to hit a small target; the user must slow down to be sure to hit the smaller target, pulling her concentration away from the task at hand. And no, the task at hand is not to manipulate the computer interface, it is to write or create graphics or answer email.

A button comprised of a text label only is a smaller target than the same label surrounded by a nice button graphic. Slower interface, distraction from task, less discoverable, less learnable. Just knowing that the label doesn't have to be precisely targeted does not help. The button graphic makes that target easier to hit, while reinforcing the idea that, yes, this is a button to be pressed; it's not just a label.

Michael Heilemann <http://binarybonsai.com/blog?tag=iOS+7> has discussed this type of button causes confusion for the user. His example is the music player interface in iOS 7. At the bottom are the labels "Repeat Album", "Create" and "Shuffle". Does the label "Repeat Album" indicate the music player is already in repeat mode or must be pressed to repeat? Is it a button, and does it represent state or action? If you look very closely, you can see this label is in bold, apparently indicating it is in this state; even more difficult to discern if you are color blind. Do I have to press this label again to exit this mode or press a different button? The old buttons, especially OS X buttons came in various styles indicating which action is required.

Michael also discusses the new iPhone unlock screen has the label "slide to unlock" with no graphic at all! So, which direction should I slide, and what am I sliding?

Not that all older Apple interfaces are without problem. Mac OS X Mail app has a button in the junk folder that says "Not Junk". Does this indicate the stuff in the folder is not marked as junk, and the button should be pushed; no, it's indicating the stuff in that folder is already tagged as junk, but my mom forgets this from time to time. This is not just a problem for retired people; people are all different and interpret interfaces in a different manner. Some people use glasses, prefer labels and graphics that reinforce each other or are left handed.

Changes to buttons and labels began in OS X some time ago in small ways, leading to increased confusion in the interface. This confusion has come to the fore in iOS 7. Overly simplified interfaces will confuse a significant percentage of any population, and will distract many more from their tasks.

A friend points out that many of these issues are analogous to a car radio. His has a large volume knob (see Fitt's Law). He can adjust the volume with the smallest glance from the corner of his eye, while keeping his eyes on the road. My car radio has a small knob, difficult to get my fingers on, distracting my attention from the road.

In iOS 7, we are seeing changes in graphics for the sake of changes while decreasing the usability of the interface. The signal strength meter on the iPhone changed from five bars to five dots. Why? Apple can do better!

For others' opinions about the iOS 7 interface, you can check out this link: <http://www.quora.com/iOS-7/Is-the-new-Apple-iOS-7-look-an-improvement?srid=Atx&share=1>.

You will have your own opinions of the iOS 7 interface. Don't forget you can send feedback to Apple with an email to feedback@apple.com or by going to <http://www.apple.com/feedback>.