And no need to wear those embarrasing gloves!
Touch input has revolutionised the display interface for consumer and non-consumer devices alike, with touch interfaces moving from the accepted to the expected in a very short space of time (who hasn’t assumed that some interface is touch-based only to be frustrated to find they still need to use a keyboard, trackball or some other input mechanism?).
So an increasingly important question for designers of non-consumer products is how to deliver an ‘iPad-style’, touch-based user experience while meeting the functional requirements of the target application and the budget constraints dictated by low- to medium-volume sales.
Certainly, one of the first things to consider is the touch technology itself. Industrial, medical and other non-consumer designs often need to be more robust and resilient, for example, or need to be operated with gloved hands (see how far you get with your iPhone when wearing gloves – unless, of course, you’re willing to be seen in those special iPhone gloves that the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am described during his recent appearance on Top Gear as the “ugliest gloves in the world”.)
But the best experiences will only come from going beyond the technology and truly understanding how users want to interact with their tech. And if you want inspiration check out some of the possibilities in this Touch Screens of the Future video.