Feeling is believing: the UX of touch interaction
Building on existing patterns
It was refreshing to be able to work with multiple team members to design physical interactions where a user could manipulate their physical surroundings with the Josh Micro’s capacitive LED ring. This design pattern allowed for a finger drag around the circumference to adapt to the last given voice command and manipulate lights, shades, music, and more, and even initiate complex scenes with a single or double tap, or to just quickly mute the onboard microphones.
For my contributions on this interaction model, I am listed on the patent (US 10,345,773).
Photo: Nicholas Freeman
🎵 Slide to the left, slide to the right…
Dragging your finger around the touch capacitive LED ring within 30 seconds of giving a voice command will affect the last mentioned device, increasing or decreasing the brightness of lights, raising or lowering the volume of music or TV, and even opening or closing motorized shades.
Animation: Brian Hulme
These touch interaction models were illustrated in videos made by a co-designer and shared with clients.
Animations: Brian Hulme
The “dog food” test
In tech startups a common expression is to “dog food” your product, or live with it on a daily basis in order to understand the end user experience. Being able to do so has allowed me to inform my visual designs with lessons learned from real life interactions. This video showcases how a follow-up touch interaction builds on the last given voice command.