Basic Design Consideration Part 5

Do you need it?

The best design for a WAP solution is unfortunately, not the 'best of breed' solution. Certainly not for a small interface such as a cellular phone! The key word is 'Simplicity'. Do you actually need the functionality?

For something like a messaging application (ie. Nokia 6210 SMS Messages Menu), do you need something like Templates? If the intended usage is to simplify commonly used phrases, why can't it be easily available within the new message?

In order to use the Template functionality, the user will have to navigate deep down the menu chain:

Using Templates from new messages
Menu (Selection)
Messages (1)
Write message (1)
Option (Selection)
Insert Template (7)
Please call (1)
Option (Selection)
Send (2)
Search (Selection)
Name (Selection)
Send (Selection)

 

Using Templates from Templates
Menu (Selection)
Messages (1)
Templates (5)
Open (Selection)
Please call (1)
Option (Selection)
Send (2)
Search (Selection)
Name (Selection)
Send (Selection)

 

Not using Templates
Menu (Selection)
Messages (1)
7, 5, 3, 2, 7, 3, 0, 2, 2, 5, 5. (Input)
Option (Selection)
Send (2)
Search (Selection)
Name (Selection)
Send (Selection)

 

Having Template is a good idea but in the execution, it is less productive than typing it manually. Thus Template is not necessarily needed in this case.

 

The iWap.com Team