Summary
What an app is?
– An app is a software to perform a specific function for the user or another application program.
- There are 3 apps, HTML 5, Native and a Hybrid of both these types.
A HTML app is a responsive web design app that can allow a website to be resized to your device for easier viewing and navigation.
Native apps and mobile apps run directly on the phone and only on the phone.
A hybrid includes elements of both native and web apps. A single platform like iOS or Android.
HMTL Web apps were more favourable as they were possible to be viewed on the web or mobile device.
Pros of HTML
- Quick option for making existing content
- Only needs to be built once and would be usable for every device
Cons of HTML
- User experience is limited
- Performance is inferior
- It’s an app world where almost everyone is on their phone nowadays.
Pros of Hybrid
- Mobile app built with HTML and gives you space on a user’s phone that can be used to bridge some gaps between native apps and a mobile website.
- Attractive for internal teams that have web skills
Cons of Hybrid
- Low/no bandwidth an issue
- No unique mobile functions which makes it boring to use
Pros of Native
- UI and UX smooth and engaging
- Device capabilities optimised
- Faster load times
- Robust performance in offline or online mode
- Better discoverability and brand image
- Superior security compared to HTML5
Cons of Native
- Requires development for each mobile platform
- Skills to develop these types of apps are expensive.
Gaming & Social Media remain the top 2 types of apps that most people spend time on.
When making an app, users expect familiar user interface controls and will respond best when they have seen the controls before and understand its purpose within your app.
Touch gestures are essential when creating an app because the movement needs to be made with a common gesture. An example of this is zooming in with your two fingers to zoom into a photo.
High resolutions are taking over the mobile device industry and as designers you need to take into account the size your interface controls may be, the typography and image size.
Time is short and people have busy lives. Your app needs to be easy to use and needs to have a simple navigation system.
Compared to a desktop computer, the mobile phone is a small screen and once again you need to take into account the size your interface controls may be, the typography and image size.
Context is everything when it comes to apps because you take your phone everywhere and you need to understand the users context and where they will be using this app, how they will use this app to benefit or have direction throughout their time.
Wire framing is essential before creating the base screen design because you are able to experiment with how a user may interact with your app before you start without knowing how exactly you want your audience to react and how you want them to use your app.
Most Important Point
The most important point of this lecture pod will have to be all the consideration that you need to take when making an app. Without these considerations your app is seen to fail almost immediately therefore leading to a waste of money and little success. App design requires a lot of time and user testing before being put out to the public as it needs to prove its purpose is effective and it also needs to be user friendly.
All Things App Design! 