09 - The iPad user experience

I keep saying that the iPlatform - my pet term for the Apple mobile device OS - is all about 'user experience.' But what does that mean, exactly? Shouldn't everything be about 'user experience?'

Of course, the answer to that question is, yes. But in some cases the user experience isn't relevant. For instance, if you want to find the square root of 269, pretty much any calculator will do, regardless of who makes it. If you want to boil an egg, you just need a pot and a stove of some kind (and of course, an egg). Once you have these items, the job is nearly done. The final product - a boiled egg - is more important than the method you use to make it. Same with the answer to your math question.

But when it comes to many tasks that we perform on desktop and mobile devices, the tool we use to perform that task is often as important as the task itself. In fact, in the case of consuming media, it is the task. So, your specific interaction with that device is a major contributing factor towards the success - the enjoyment - of that task. If performing the task takes too long, is too difficult or confusing, then it becomes less enjoyable. Perhaps, even to the point of unpleasant. This is what I mean by 'the user experience'.

The problem with most desktop and mobile devices is that they are trying to be all things to all people. The various operating systems (OS) are designed to cover a wide range of possible user tasks ranging from the mundane (desktop clocks and calenders) to the complex (creating visual effects for a movie). As such, its practically impossible to create an OS which is simple enough for anyone to use. Even the Mac OS, which is generally considered to be the best in this area, is still fairly complicated and has its own quirks and foibles that can confound a first time user.

One of the promises of gadgets like the iPad, is the wide range of functionality that can be found in a desktop computer, but with a level of simplicity similar to that of a smart-phone. In comparison to desktop machines, next-generation mobile phones and PDAs are severely limited in the number of things they can do, but they do those few things very well, indeed. Furthermore, they perform most operations with a minimum amount of interaction by the user.

For a device such as the iPad to slip into the household comfortably, it needs to be as simple and easy to use as a TV remote control or an old fashion telephone. Pick it up, use it. Job done. Instantly. And it needs to be usable by everyone - not just adults, but kids and pensioners, too.

Laptops, netbooks and pretty much all other tablets fall short in this one area. If you doubt me, then try the following:

1) From the off position, turn on your device.
2) Get the weather forecast for tomorrow in your area.
3) Now, find out how many emails you have.

It took me about 10 seconds on the iPad. How long did it take you? It becomes more interesting when you change the task to something more complex.

1) From the off position turn on your device
2) Find out what the "genus of honeybees" is. (Search for "honeybees" on Wikipedia.)
3) Once you've done that, go find the latest headline.

Took me about 30 seconds, total.

For the ultimate test, give the device to your mother and have her try it. Next, give the device to a child and see how that goes.

Why did I use these examples? For a couple of reasons. First of all, these are typical tasks in a family household. Checking the weather, finding the answer to a crossword puzzle, browsing the TV guide - that sort of thing. Secondly, chances are, unless you have a computer that's on in every room, you're probably going to have to get out of your chair to do it. Third, these are all tasks that can be performed without the help of a computer using more traditional means: newspapers, encyclopaedia, local TV station. Lastly, each test requires doing more than one thing. We all know that the iPad doesn't multitask - that's been it's biggest criticism.

"But wait," I hear some of you say, "I can do all that on my iPhone!" Sure you can, but how comfortable is it? I love both my Palm Pilot and my iPod touch, but they are both still just a little bit too small to be a pleasure to use.

In my opinion, the iPad scores brilliantly in terms of user experience. I found myself getting over the coolness factor very quickly and just using it to do stuff. At the different households I've stayed at during my US visit I've seen others treat it the same way. Watching it get passed around a table or living room amongst the kids was fascinating. They were totally un-phased by it from a technical point of view and immediately just used it to jump onto YouTube and the web (in that order).

I'd say that of the 20 or so people that have so far sat and used my iPad, only one or two have asked me how it works and what to do with it.

Over the last 10 years, we've come to feel so liberated by technology that we've become satisfied with the effort involved in using it. As a grade-A, old-school, alpha geek, I know this too well. I remember a time when our family had no colour TV, telephone, washing machine or microwave. Those things existed, but not in my home. We couldn't get those things in the 70's, as they were expensive luxuries we couldn't afford. The internet? Every time I use Skype to video chat between Japan and the United Kingdom (real-time, for free!) it feels a little bit like magic. And I'm a propeller head - I understand how it works!

So, I really appreciate what all our new technology means, and I don't mind having to do a bit of work to use it. If I have to run an installer or two, or fire up a custom client... well, its not ideal, but it's better than the alternative. The alternative being, er, not.

But my mum... she remembers a time when there wasn't even television. As a result, she's happy with just a remote control and a handful of TV channels. Everything else is a luxury, and if it gets too complicated, she doesn't see the point. She's managed most of her life with no media technology at all. She only gets upset when there's no radio available.

Despite what I said in the last paragraph, as it happens, my mum is extremely "down" with technology. She programs the DVR, sends text messages like a teenager and surfs the web everyday. But, at the age of 70, and English not being her first language, she'd rather spend as little time as possible learning how to use a thing and, instead, just use it.

So, the big test for the iPad comes in the form of my elderly Spanish mum. Notes on that coming up soon!

NEXT: My mum & the iPad