Re: Mobile, Web and Multi-device

Le mardi 17 septembre 2013 à 14:25 +0100, Patrick H. Lauke a écrit :
> > As far as I can tell, the main reason "mobile" is so popular is that it
> > combines a number of characteristics:
> > * always (or at least, very easily) connected
> > * easy to transport
> > * easy to start
> > * allowing rich interactions
> 
> I have to admit that, of the above, only "easy to transport" really 
> strikes me as intrinsically "mobile" (though then ultrabooks, new 
> lightweight/thin laptops, etc would also be covered).

Note that I wasn't trying to define "mobile" as much as identify why so
many people (this group included) cares about mobile; and I still think
the combination of this 4 factors remain pretty specific to mobile for
the wider population.

>  Anything else also 
> applies to most, if not all, traditional "desktop" machines (my PC is 
> always on, and when it's not it takes seconds to start/wake, and yes I 
> do seem to have a few rich interactions with a 
> touchscreen/mouse/keyboard combo).

My impression is that for many people (I included), turning a computer
on (even if it's simply asleep, but many people still turn their
computers off) is associated with a lot more "work" than just waking
your phone; but  I don't have hard data to back that assertion up.

And yes, computers clearly also enable rich interactions, but that you
can only properly use in fairly static situations.

> Some time ago one aspect specific to the "mobile context" that was being 
> discussed were sensors...geolocation, motion, light, etc. But again, 
> those are now present in many laptops and even desktops, and have their 
> uses there as well (for instance, even though it's sitting on my desk, I 
> appreciate that I can have geolocation to convey my - static - location 
> for sites to tailor their offerings/results).

(just to reiterate — I'm specifically not trying to define a mobile
context; just put in perspective why "mobile" is all the rage at a more
abstract level than a particular kind of device)

> The distinction does feel rather artificial at this point. But I am 
> interested in the more generalised multi-modal aspect here: content, 
> services, interactions that adapt to differences in input and output 
> modes (small screens, audio-only outputs, full-HD displays, mouse, 
> touch, keyboard, voice commands, screenreaders, etc).

Yes; that's definitely where I want us to go :)

Dom

Received on Tuesday, 17 September 2013 13:54:20 UTC