WHAT TO MAKE OF TODAY’S “SMART” PLATFORMS

I-Hen TsaiSoftware EngineerDelta Electronics Tainan Joint Labs

Outline

Defining and debunking the “smart” myth

History & evolution

Market analysis

Applications & examples

Designing for today’s smart devices

General advice & examples

Advice for Android development

Conclusions

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Definition of “smart” device

1997 Ericsson, first mention

1. Wide range of form factors

2. Support ubiquitous computing properties

3. Impersonal physical world interaction

4. Multi-tasking capabilities

Sounds like every laptop doesn’t it?

We don’t call our laptop a “smart” something

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The “smart” myth

A smart device is only as smart as its user

If it is working as intended

And if designed and built as intended

Machines (devices) are NOT smart!!

People ARE!!

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Outline

Defining and debunking the “smart” myth

History & evolution

Market analysis

Applications & examples

Designing for today’s smart devices

General advice & examples

Advice for Android development

Conclusions

5

Evolution

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Smartphones & such platforms

Feature phones

Smart phones

Tablets

Phablets

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Similar stuff that flopped

PDA (Palm)

Netbooks

Chromebooks

Tablet PC

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Outline

Defining and debunking the “smart” myth

History & evolution

Market analysis

Applications & examples

Designing for today’s smart devices

General advice & examples

Advice for Android development

Conclusions

9

Key players

Systems

Apple

Google

RIM

Microsoft

Hardware

Apple

Samsung

Sony

HTC

Sharp

LG

Asus

Motorola

Nokia

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Market distribution

Vendor2012 Unit

Shipments2012 Market

Share2011 Unit

Shipments2011 Market

ShareYear-over-year

Change

1. Samsung 250.0 20.8% 114.0 12.3% 119.3%

2. Apple 218.7 18.2% 151.5 16.3% 44.3%

3. Lenovo 78.3 6.5% 48.5 5.2% 61.4%

4. HP 58.2 4.8% 63.6 6.8% -8.5%

5. Dell 38.8 3.2% 44.6 4.8% -12.9%

Others 557.1 46.4% 508.1 54.6% 9.6%

Total 1201.1 100.0% 930.4 100.0% 29.1%

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Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Smart Connected Device Tracker, February 20, 2013.

Arguments: Why did they succeed? Affordable

Better computing power than before

Applications, looooooots of applications

Accessible to developers

Satisfying customers

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Comparisons: Between computing hardware

AttributePlatform

Smartphone Tablet Desktop Laptop

Pricing (NTD) 5~30K 2~30K 15~100K 15~100K

Screen Size 2.7~6.3” 7~10.1” 14~6X” 10~18.4”

Controls Fingers, voice Fingers, voiceMice, keyboard, etc.

Mice, keyboard, etc.

Workspace Very small Moderate Big Moderate

Memory Small Small Big Big

Storage Small Small Huge Moderate

Upgrades Storage No/Storage Everything Limited

Computing Power

Low Low High Moderate

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A developing weird scenario…

Your phones now has the following abilities: Phone (duh…) SMS (uh..duh…) Got games!! (play snake anyone?) Plays music (good!) Plays videos (good!) Stillpic camera (great!) Shoots videos (woohoo~) Data connectivity (good!) Surfs web (nice!) Does email (nice!) GPS navigator (good to have…) A torch (well…) Doubles as a remote (huh?) High def audio playback(what?) Can be a projector (wait…) … Is a Star Trek tricorder (no way!!...OK, maybe in 30 years…?)

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Current distribution

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Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Smart Connected Device Tracker, February 20, 2013.

Product Category

2012 Unit Shipments

2012 Market Share

2011 Unit Shipments

2011 Market Share

Year-over-year Change

Smartphone 722.4 60.1% 494.5 53.1% 46.1%

Tablet 128.3 10.7% 72.0 7.7% 78.4%

Portable PC 202.0 16.8% 209.1 22.5% -3.4%

Desktop PC 148.4 12.4% 154.8 16.6% -4.1%

Total 1201.1 100.0% 930.4 100.0% 29.1%

Current distribution

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Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Smart Connected Device Tracker, February 20, 2013.

Outline

Defining and debunking the “smart” myth

History & evolution

Market analysis

Applications & examples

Designing for today’s smart devices

General advice & examples

Advice for Android development

Conclusions

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Applications

Health diagnostics

Music composition

Digital education medium

Fitness monitoring

Mobile workplace

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Examples in education

Electronic textbooks

Edutaiment

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Examples in health industry

Device integration

Communications

Management

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Examples in AR

Museums

Exhibits

Games

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The Real Value?

Portability

Versatility

Connectivity

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Drawbacks

Same problems with laptops

Limited power

Expensive

Crashes/hangs

Small working space

Cannot upgrade

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Things to keep in mind (I)

Aim of your application

Screen real estate

Flow of control

Hardware requirements to run your application

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Things to keep in mind (II)

Target audience

Streamlining

Provide alternatives

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DESIGNING FOR TODAY’S “SMART” PLATFORMS

Outline

Defining and debunking the “smart” myth

History & evolution

Market analysis

Applications & examples

Designing for today’s smart devices

General advice & examples

Advice for Android development

Conclusions

27

KISS – “Keep it simple, stupid”

Kelly Johnson, Lockheed Skunk Works

(SR-71 Blackbird and other US secret planes)

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General advice

Advice in designing UI

Be clear

Be concise

Be obvious

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Examples (I)

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Examples (II)

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Examples (III)

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Examples (IV)

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Examples (V)

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Advice in coding

Make sure your application is responsive

Don’t crash

Debug, test, debug and test some more

Try not to run in the background

Don’t overdo the popup messages

Reuse your code

Markup with comments

35

Outline

Defining and debunking the “smart” myth

History & evolution

Market analysis

Applications & examples

Designing for today’s smart devices

General advice & examples

Advice for Android development

Conclusions

36

Advice for Android (I)

Each screen is an “activity”

Last in, first out

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Advice for Android (II)

Screen size compatibility

Multiple layouts

Different resolution media

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Supporting different screen size layouts Supporting different resolution media

Supporting different layout orientations

Advice for Android (III)

Show progress

Some actions need processing time

Let users know their phone is still alive

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Outline

Defining and debunking the “smart” myth

History & evolution

Market analysis

Applications & examples

Designing for today’s smart devices

General advice & examples

Advice for Android development

Conclusions

40

Conclusions

Powerful platform if utilized well

Finite resources

Adoption is slow

Fragmentation

Where is the money?

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Thank You for Your Attention!!