Monday, April 5, 2010

But iPad doesn't fit in my tiny purse...

The past few days when most of my friends have been crazy about buying iPad, I must admit that iPad has not really impressed me. Here are the few practical reasons why:
  • It is 1.5 pounds, pretty heavy
  • The size of the iPad makes it even more difficult to carry around
  • Does not support flash and can support only one window at a time

But, would have considered buying iPad if it was foldable and could fit it my purse. Maybe, the next version of iPad could be just that.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Did I book it? or not?

On my recent trip to Stockholm, I had the daunting task to do my own laundry. This led me to interact with a complex laundry room booking system. The booking machine had all the instructions in Svenska and the interface complex even for a localite (A Swedish lady who tried to help me was also confused!)




















Finally, when I did manage to book a machine, it took few minutes to figure out which washer/dryer I had booked, as the label on the machines were equally confusing.




















The whole experience made me realize the importance of pictorial interfaces. Pictorial interfaces, with appropriate use of iconography, can cover various user demographics. Pictorial interfaces cross the language barrier and
illiterate users will be able to understand them as well. Pictorial interfaces do have few drawbacks regarding accessibility (how will a visually impaired user use these systems?), but however makes things simpler.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Inside Story

Off late, there is a lot of interest on photographs, posters of products being disassembled and providing details of all the parts inside.

There is also another recent trend called 'Exploded View'. Although this trend was originally used for Lego instructions on how to assemble the different lego blocks to build models, recently designers have been using them to display hidden technologies and to boast the hidden value of the product side. For example, the recent advertisement for Hermès watches that reveals all the gears, escapements and jewels to convey the product’s importance and the preciousness of its complexity.

In today’s world, the news is often punctuated by explosions, and increasingly there is a sense of the center losing grip and of things flying apart. The exploded diagram might make real life seem menacing. But dissection is also teaching, and showing the parts is a fundamental element of learning and study. You can read more about this by Phil Patton at the AIGA website

I tried to create an exploded view of my name below :-) For ones who are not familiar with 'Veena', it is a stringed musical instrument and an integral part of Indian Classical music. The different parts of the veena reveal some of my skillsets.





(click to enlarge)

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Voting experience in Indian e-lections

The 2009 Indian elections can be divided into 2 phases - ‘Deciding’ phase and later the ‘Voting’ phase. Deciding phase is when voters evaluate candidates and decides on a candidate to vote for. The Voting phase involves the process of voting - getting their voter’s ID, information on the right polling station and finally casting their vote.


This year’s elections saw a significant change in the polling experience in both the phases for voters. It was the first digital election in India and had many technological advancements.


The 2008 US elections had a significant influence on the Indian political parties. Inspired by Obama’s campaign, all the major Indian parties quickly utilized the power of social networking tools like facebook, YouTube, Twitter apart from having websites for their parties and candidates. They also utilized Television and mobile phones for campaigning. Television was a big way to get the message to illiterate voters in remote areas. These mediums also supported voters to discuss and voice their opinions, concerns in a transparent environment.


Apart from the political parties, corporates also pitched in to help voters decide. Google, along with Hindustan Times, developed a site which helped users to locate their constituencies and polling booths, the candidates from their constituencies, their background (education, criminal record, etc.) and their quotes. This site helped voters be better informed of the issues by making available comparative area-specific development data such as crime rate, literacy rate, and poverty, among other indicators


Tata’s Jaago-re site helped voters register and get their voter’s ID quickly. This was an improvement from the previous years where voters had to wait for hours in endless queues to first register and then get their photos taken. Users also had the flexibility to register anytime on the website, and were provided the details where they needed to get their voter’s ID.


Voters were categorized by Part number (polling booth) and Serial Number (individual). Voters could find the exact polling room through this information


Finally, the electronic voting machine was very easy to use. The design was simple with the candidate's name, party symbol and an arrow pointing to it and a button next to it in a row. The one touch interface fared better than stamping on the paper, folding it and putting it in the ballot box as previous years. Immediately, the EVM was locked until the polling officer unlocked it for the next voter.


The EVMs assured voters that their votes were counted with better accuracy than manually counting the papers, which was more prone to human errors.


Overall, the digital process was simpler compared to the previous election. One can also say that this was a environment-friendly election with less use of paper. Hopefully, the EVMs can be reused or recycled.


The next election can further simplify the voting process and enhance the voting experience:

  • Provide a biometric voter’s ID, which can be scanned and quickly registers the voter at the polling station. This will also prevent misuse as it can read the fingerprint. It can also quickly bring the help information if a voter went to the wrong polling station. This can be similar to the passports and visas issued by few countries.
  • Computerize the process of finding the voter’s polling booths at the venue. A lot of people were unable to find their names and did not know where to go as the polling stations did not have computers to quickly find out (esp the place I voted)
  • Provide facilities for voters who are traveling or living in a different city or abroad to vote online
  • Allow rural voters (with no access to internet) to send questions, concerns to party candidates via SMS
These steps can ensure that there will be a better voter turn out the next time!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Is it On? or Off?

I often get confused while turning on and off the LPG Cylinder regulator knob. Especially, since I do not cook regularly.
The LPG cylinder if not handled probably, would create a disaster. However, the knobs do not clearly indicate whether it is on or off. There are few instructions, but are located on the top of the cylinder. If the cylinder is placed below the kitchen counter, one cannot see them from the side.
As you see in the image, the instructions are too small small for something very dangerous.
It is time the LPG cylinders provide clear instructions on how it should be turned off/on. This will avoid the many disasters which happen in India every year.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Lost in Translation?

My interest in typography often makes me observe signboards. Especially, how the company names are translated in local languages on neon signboards.
Bangalore requires that the sign boards be displayed in kannada along with English.
While the sign boards in English are well thought and designed, when they are translated to Kannada or Hindi they forget to carry forward the visual, specifically the type treatment of the original logo. Very few signboards redesign the structure, form, proportion and font metrics of the local script to match the original.


Eg: the below logo in Kannada just italicizes a common font in that language. It also misses the green leaf which is part of the logo. Ultimately, it is unable to visually translate the brand into the local language


This logo forgets to carry the font weight of the original logo

Many times, the translated logo, either in Kannada or Hindi seem to exist only to please the law enforcing authorities. So they are predominantly smaller in size and placed in a corner.


There are few logos which translate their visual identity very well. Below is one of my favorite.

Some may argue since the main logo is in Kananda, a lot of thought might have been put to carry the type characteristics to English.

Another logo which tries to translate(the English neon signboard is also on green background) -



However, most of the companies can also invest in finding or even creating new type in local languages which match the type of the original logo. It ultimately helps carry the brand to the local consumers.

But why does translating the type treatment matter? Simply because logos are a visual depiction of the brand. And the brand carries the company's vision and all that it stands for. Hence, it is imperative to have similar type treatments across various scripts.

p.s. The above comments are only limited to typography and have nothing against the company or brand

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Spell Check Disaster: 'Anshuman' becomes 'Inhuman'...

Recently, when one of my friend mistakingly applied spell check on a widely used mail, the person to whom it was addressed to - 'Anshuman' , was changed to 'Inhuman'.

This incident shows how features in applications which are supposed to make our job easier can actually create havoc (just imagine if Anshuman were his boss...oops!) Also shows the lack of geographic and cultural adaptability of popular applications. Asians, especially Indians form a significant proportion of users of these applications globally. However, only few Indian names are recognized.

Here are few recommendations on how this can be improved-

  • Design applications which can provide geographically and culturally appropriate spell check based on the selected country

  • Have a database of certain disaster words which double checks when used. Eg: provide message which suggests 'Are you sure you want to change it to 'Inhuman'? This may be irritating, but can definitely save all those embarrassing moments.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Bridging Business Strategy and Design

Intersting presentation on how to bridge differences between business strategy and design.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Tips to Interface Design

A good presentation by Garrett Dimon on designing interfaces