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user-interfacewindows-mobileusability

Are there any guidelines for designing user interface for mobile devices?

I am creating an application for a Windows Mobile computer. The catch is that the device (Motorola MC17) does not have a touch screen or universal keys - there are only six programmable hardware keys. Fitt's law is not applicable here, most Microsoft guidelines are also moot. For now I'm mimicking Nokia's S60 keyboard layout as close as possible, since it's the most popular phone platform among my target audience.

Motorola MC17

Are there any guidelines for creating a simple, discoverable user interface on such a constrained device? What fonts and colours should I use to make my UI readable? How do I measure if the items on-screen are big enough? What conventions should I follow?

Solution

  • Microsoft has an official set of Guidelines for getting the "Designed for Windows Mobile" logo. These are a reasonable start as they not only cover one-handed (no touchscreen) operation, they also help your app to maintain familiarity for users.

    Some other resources discussing the topic: