MAPOS USA '07

Widget Frameworks and the Mobile User Interface: How to Succeed, Today & Tomorrow

Today’s deployed mobile phone handsets support a bewildering array of user interface technologies, including SMS/MMS, WAP, FlashLite, SVGt 1.1, Java, and more. Tomorrow’s handsets will offer even more UI technologies, such as SVGt 1.2, Widsets, and advancements to the technologies of today ...

This workshop is a hands-on working session to define, idea-storm and design widget-like user interfaces and applications for the handsets of today and tomorrow.

Workshop leader Scott Weiss will lead participants through the development process; from understanding the UI technologies available, through the design stage, to best practice in marketing and product positioning. Participants will gain a working understanding of the UI frameworks in handsets now and on the horizon; use paper-prototypes and sketches to brainstorm and document software ideas; and learn deployment and monetization strategies to turn their ideas into must-have products.

No design skills are required; the workshop leader will sketch designs and share technology descriptions as needed by the delegates and the day’s discussion.

These practical sessions are designed to result in the ideal user interfaces for:

• Search
• Picture Mail
• Music Purchase & Playback
• Television Navigation & Play
• Ringtone & Wallpaper Purchase & Assignment

The workshop will benefit Product Managers, Program Managers, Software Designers and Architects seeking inspiration and technical understanding in the field of UI. Executives interested in service design and deployment will also gain value.

Scott Weiss is the Principal of Usable Products Company, an easeof- use consultancy focused on mobile device usability and design. He is the author of "Handheld Usability" (Wiley: 2002), the pioneering text on mobile UI design, usability, and prototyping. He has lectured and/or taught at Parsons New School University, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon, NYU. Usable Products’ clients include Cisco, Google, Intel, LG, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung, Sprint, Sun Microsystems, and Vodafone.

Introduction to Widgets

A survey of the widgets available on the market will be presented; the most famous example is Alltel’s Celltop service, a widget deployment available today.

Today’s Technologies

We’re all familiar with SMS, but how is it an interactive technology suited to widget design? What about Java, FlashLite, and SVGt 1.1+? These technologies will be presented from the perspective of marketing and user interface design, along with a frank discussion of actual deployment in the marketplace.

Brainstorming & Design Session 1

Workshop delegates will brainstorm widget ideas using today’s technologies for deployment on existing networks and handsets. Scott Weiss will work with the team to sketch designs, highlighting implementation methods.

Tomorrow’s Technologies

IMS, Widsets, SVGt 1.2, and improvements to Java-such as Laszlo, will be presented, again, from the marketing and design perspectives. Examples of outputs from each technology will be demonstrated.

Brainstorming & Design Session 2

Delegates will return to brainstorming, but with tomorrow’s technologies as the design foundation. The workshop leader will again assist with sketching and mapping out deployment strategies.

Round Table Discussion: Policies & Pricing

This open discussion among delegates will start with a frank discussion of how to monetize widgets and provide benefits to consumers and operators. Topics are open to the interests of the audience.

Outputs

Brainstorming sessions and sketches will be documented with written notes and photographs of sketches. Materials generated during the workshop will be posted on the networking system, making them accessible for download by all workshop delegates.

Timings

9.30 Registration - 13.00 Lunch - 17.00 Close