[Libreoffice-ux-advise] [GSOC] iOS remote control design

[Siqi Liu]

Hi Mirek,

On Aug 7, 2013 7:55 PM, "Mirek M." <mazelm at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Siqi,
>
> On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 2:28 PM, Siqi Liu <me at siqi.fr> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Mirek,
>>
>> Thanks for you feedbacks! I've responded inline for certain issues that
you have pointed out.
>>
>> On Aug 5, 2013 11:45 AM, "Mirek M." <mazelm at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > Hi again,
>> > I was hoping someone else would comment, because I'm not well-versed
in the iOS HIG and I don't care much for the platform. It doesn't help that
the iOS 7 HIG is hidden behind an Apple ID login, which I don't have -- if
you have one, take a look at the HIG [1] and the iOS 7 UI transition guide
[2].
>>
>> Me neither, I'm fairly new to iOS dev actually ^^ I will take a look at
it.
>
> OK, good.
>>
>> > Based on what I've gathered from articles, screens, and videos about
iOS, though, here are my comments and concerns:
>> > * The swipe-in sidebar might not work on iOS 7 devices, as the swipe
from the left side of the screen is used to go back. I'd recommend
installing an iOS 7 beta to test out your app, and instead of a swipe-in
sidebar, how about a pinch-out overview like on the Android app? As a plus,
it won't be possible to accidentally show the sidebar when you meant to go
to the last slide.
>>
>> Actually the swipe in sidebar is activated only by the detail button on
the upper right corner since I don't want users to accidentally activate it
by a swipe gesture. However I do need to swap the position of "stop
presentation" button (on the left) and the "detail button" (on the right),
didn't know why I placed them in wrong positions :-P
>
> OK.
>>
>> > * The style seems to be an odd combination of iOS 6 and iOS 7 styles.
Please pick one and go with it (I would say iOS 7 is a better choice). It
would be good to use orange as the accent color, like we do on Android.
>>
>> Ok, I will change the accent to orange throughout the app, which was
green before.
>>
>> In terms of styling, I personally don't have any iOS 7 compatible device
to test on so I can either test it in the iOS7 simulator (which is still in
Dev preview) or really just customize all the iOS 6 elements to make them
feel like iOS7...which doesn't appear to be a good choice to me...
>
> iOS 7 simulator sounds good. Don't customize the iOS 6 elements -- that
would probably not give accurate results.

Actually if we release the app as an iOS6 app, (which would be the case) it
would continue to use iOS 6 ui elements on iOS7 devices. For now I've just
customized some elements to be similar to the one used in ios 7, and it
turns out fine since basically we are  removing old styles components
(gradients, shadow etc to get flatter). I have tested on iOS6 and iOS5
devices and both work fine. I've also borrowed an iOS7 device to test on
and it works as expected though some tweaks are necessary to make the
feeling more coherent throughout the app.

>>
>> But yes, I will investigate into how to make the design style transition
between iOS6 based app and iOS7 based app. For now, all the customized
elements are designed to be similar to the iOS7 because, ...let's admit it,
the iOS6 UI is just too boring...I'm kind of struggling here as well.
>>
>> > * I don't quite understand the layout slide show control pad. Why is
the next slide shown on the left whan one gets to it by swiping to the
right? Why is it shown at all?
>>
>> First, I did not stick to the Android app which used a coverflow to
change between slides because it's to me a little bit trickier to change to
next slide by swiping. It doesn't seem to be as reliable as to simply click
on a button. With a button, users don't even need to look at the app to
know if they have swiped to the next slide or the next next slide... It was
pointed out by Michael M during the initial proposition period as well and
that's also why I made two big buttons for users to reliably control the
next/previous slide.
>
> This would be good to test out. On the one hand, tapping is simpler, on
the other, it requires the presenter to look at the screen to hit the
target area, whereas, with swiping, the whole screen is the actionable area.

Hmm..this still doesn't convince me... Scrolling is designed to easily
browse through multiples items (in a nonlinear way like pick a music album)
, and here the most used functionality is next/previous slide for a normal
presentation. It doesn't feel right to put a cover-flow in such a prominent
place...if users need to switch to another slide, it isn't really
complicated to use the sidebar to do that.

However if you do think it's a better way to go I can try that, no problem
here.

> BTW, on Android, there's also the option to use volume buttons to switch
slides.

Good point, I'll check if this is doable on iOS since they are known to be
more strict on APIs. :-P

>>
>> Second, the reason I show a secondary slideshow preview is twofold: 1.
It can be helpful for users to know what's the next slide, especially when
the presentation is at the last slide, in which case the next slide will be
black with a big "SlideShow Finished" on it 2. The screen size of iPhone is
much narrower and shorter than most of the android devices, which makes it
impossible to present only one slide while leaving enough space for the
lecturer's notes and the buttons on the bottom (if we maintain the aspect
ratio of the slideshow of course). If we want to keep aspect ratio of the
slideshow image, it presenting two slides at the same time seems to solve
the problem.
>>
>>
>>
>> However, it does make more sense to place the next slide to the right. I
will change that soon.
>
>
> Thanks. That will make more sense.
>
> Be sure to keep the new iPhone shape in mind as well, though.
>>
>>
>> > * What does the Touch Pointer in settings do and how is it different
from the Pointer button in slide view?
>>
>> The "Touch Pointer" option, when disabled, activates accelerometer based
pointer. But if at the end of gsoc I don't have a reliable accelerometer
based pointer, I will remove this option and makes it touch pointer only,
>>
>> The pointer button, in "touch pointer" mode, will display an enlarged
current slide, which allows users to touch the desired part more
accurately.
>>
>> In "accelerometer based pointer" (which is highly experimental), users
can keep holding on this Pointer button and a pointer will be shown on the
phone, which can be moved based on accelerometer. When users release this
button, the enlarged picture and the pointer will be dismissed.
>
> OK. It'd be good to test the usability of this feature when it works.
>
>>
>> > * I think it's important to show the clock in the presentation control
pad, as that's the screen the presenter will be on the most.
>>
>> I agree with you, I think it would be possible to place it at the center
of the navigation bar.
>
> Sounds good. Could be similar to the current Android implementation.
>>
>> > * On the "New Server" page, "Server Name" should just read "Name" and
it should be below the "IP address" entry, as it's optional. The label
below is unnecessary.
>>
>> Ok, will do so.
>
> Thanks.
>
>> > * The Slide sidebar seems undiscoverable. Please have a button for it,
preferably in the main toolbar.
>>
>> Yes, it is on the main toolbar (the navbar on the top), I will exchange
the position of the "stop presentation" and this detail button.
>
> Good.
>
>>
>> > * I don't think "Stop Presentation" should get such prominent
placement. (After all, it's only used once, and you really don't want to
tap it by accident.) I'd suggest replacing it with a "Back" button, but
only if the presentation can be restored right away if the button is
accidentally tapped. If not, I'd suggest putting it in the menu.
>>
>> Ah, I see, it's actually not a menu button...it's the button to reveal
the sidebar. Actually I'm thinking of replace that button with a "gear
button", which reveals a menu where users can "stop presentation", this
prevents some accidental clicks as it requires two steps to click on the
stop button.
>
> Sounds good.

Stop presentation, restart presentation, blank screen are now in a popover.

>>
>> > * I don't think the slide show preview page is necessary.
>>
>> This page presents in the Android app as well and it's actually
necessary in terms of connection management: select a server --- connection
--- pairing --- "After paired with PCs, users will need somewhere to call
start presentation". When users click on "stop presentation", they will be
brought back to this preview page, where they can restart presentation if
they will.
>
> Is that really necessary? Can't the device screen just be used? Ideally,
the app would save state and stay connected after ending a presentation, so
that you it would restore state immediately after you chose the same
computer.
> That would also get rid of problems with the "Stop Presentation" button
-- restore would be instantaneous, so tapping it by accident wouldn't
matter much.

Ah, I see your point. Actually If the presentation is running and users
come back to this preview page, the transition is immediate. So they resume
to the previous state.

However, the stop presentation should really stop the presentation both on
the phone and the pc right? And in that case, if we don't have this page,
users will be directed to server list page. Even users click on the save
device, the presentation is not running (stopped by phone), and where
should they be directed then?

For now, if the presentation is running, we restore the presentation page
immediately, if not, it stays at the preview page, waiting users to call
"start presentation".

>>
>> In Android IIRC this page has only a "start presentation" button. In iOS
I've just implemented it so that it presents the title of the document
currently displayed on the PCs as well. Also, this leave us some space to
do some presentation specific configuration like auto-start timer & touch
pointer (when disabled, we activate accelerometer based pointer).
>>
>> >
>> > BTW, what's in that menu? It'd be good to know.
>>
>> The SideBar .... Bazinga! But yes, should be on the left actually. Will
correct that ^^
>
> Good.
>>
>> >
>> > [1] https://developer.apple.com/library/etc/redirect/WWDR/iOSHIG
>> > [2]
https://developer.apple.com/library/etc/redirect/WWDR/iOSUITransitionGuide
>>
>> Hope this clarify certain aspects of the current design! And I will post
some modified screens on the Wiki later.
>
> Thanks, looking forward to it.
>>
>> Thank you!
>>
>> Siqi
>
>

Thanks again for your advice! The app has already changed a lot since your
last email ^^ will post some screens shortly.

Siqi
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