The Internet of Things (IoT) is such a compelling — and challenging — concept for designers and developers to work on because of its scale. The IoT consists of numerous connected objects, all providing data streams via sensors and creating a unified user experience (UX).
The horizons of the IoT are constantly widening. While classic IoT device examples include smart thermostats, security systems, and other smart home components are classic IoT devices, recent years have brought new additions. From consumer cars to industrial machinery, the IoT encompasses an incredible range of devices. For UX designers working on IoT projects, there's never been more to do.
What does it take to create a great IoT interface? That question is more complex than it first appears. A pulse-sensing smartwatch and a car are very different objects, but they can both connect to the IoT. How can designers make them make sense as part of a cohesive ecosystem?
There is a push and pull within IoT product design — each device needs to have a UX that works in its own context, but it also has to function as one component of a consistent network.
The dual focus can be especially important when dealing with consumer-facing IoT offerings. The everyday users who pick up smart home systems, connected car apps, fitness trackers, and other simple devices don't want to deal with unnecessary complexity. The UX should be self-explanatory and make life easier.
Designing devices and software occurs in service of a larger goal: creating repeat users who will embrace the chosen ecosystem for the long term. Smooth, friction-free interactions are paramount to this effort.
The ideal IoT experience from a user perspective is one in which things simply work. Empowered by the inflows of data from sensor networks, "smart" IoT components can anticipate user needs and adapt — for instance, by turning on the lights when a homeowner comes home, setting the temperature to the right level for each time of day, or automatically arming a security system.
As users become accustomed to these convenient devices, they'll integrate the components into their daily routines and stay loyal to the manufacturer. This is the theory, at least. Every inconvenience that breaks the "spell" of the smart IoT prevents companies from reaching such a level. Applying specific design best practices can help wipe out these sticking points.
The specific best practices of UX design for IoT interfaces cover a wide range of possible interactions and product types. These practices involve both selecting the right technological components and applying human-centric design principles, which means applying empathy toward the users and anticipating how people will feel when they encounter the products.
Specific focus areas for UX designers include:
Building one standard digital user interface (UI) for all of a company's IoT products is the way to create a cohesive, consistent user experience. But adaptiveness must be deeply infused into this UI, to compensate for the fact that it will have to function across many devices with different capabilities.
Fast Company highlights the importance of adaptive design and specifies what this might mean in context. For example, while a standard smartphone app may have to work on devices with different screen resolutions and dimensions, this effect is magnified for IoT devices. The screens embedded in various smart devices may vary widely, calling for a highly flexible UI that still makes sense when components are arranged in new configurations.
Some devices such as wearables or smart thermostats may have very little screen real estate compared to a control panel or a standard smartphone. Designs that rely on having too many items on screen could become cluttered or unusable in such confined settings. Some devices may also lack touch sensitivity, making it imperative for designers to create a UI that supports multiple control methods.
Design systems play a pivotal role in creating cohesive IoT experiences. By offering a library of reusable components, design systems enable teams to maintain consistency across devices as divergent as wearables, smart thermostats, and control panels. They also facilitate scalability, so UX and engineering can efficiently adapt designs for new devices and features, all while ensuring a seamless user experience.
Automation is where smart devices can set themselves apart from legacy versions. As modern networks introduce new and higher-level automation methods powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the potential to implement effective, user-friendly automated features is only increasing.
The automation embedded in IoT devices can combine numerous contextual features to anticipate user needs. For example, a smart thermostat can triangulate the time of day, the ambient temperature, and the fact that a user has previously set a specific temperature at the same time for a week to program itself, making that change automatically. Building interfaces that easily support this hands-off level of contextual learning should be a priority for IoT designers.
These small quality-of-life features as the combination that makes IoT devices more compelling than standard alternatives. Users outside of the normal tech early adopter demographic may appreciate the streamlined nature of automated interfaces, and the barrier for entry is notably low. All a person has to do to program a routine into a smart device is use it as usual.
Connectivity within networks is a key concept for designers to remember when crafting experiences for the IoT: Not only do networks consist of many devices, but users may want to interact with those components from a variety of endpoints.
This may mean creating multiple interface variations that work with the same devices. One example of this principle in action comes from the controls for Nest's smart thermostat. Designers allow users to control the temperature from the device itself, a smartwatch, or a smartphone, and each interface has its own type of control to suit how users touch different screen types.
Creating experiences for multiple connected devices that make sense as part of a whole — but that are also subtly different for ease of use — is a challenge worth accepting for designers. An ecosystem where the devices are truly accessible from a user's preferred location can create a lasting positive impression.
While many elements of IoT networks can adapt automatically to suit context and detected preferences, hands-on user-driven customization is also important. Users who are unable to take control directly through a simple personalization interface may become frustrated with the lack of interactivity.
Enabling customization regarding settings, preferences, and notifications allows users to feel a greater sense of connection with their products. While letting devices configure themselves automatically gives the IoT a "wow factor," personalization is a major piece of user expectations.
In keeping with the wide potential audience for consumer IoT devices, personalization shouldn't be difficult to interact with or hidden behind multiple menus. A human-centric selection of customizable options can help smart devices feel more familiar, especially useful when users install IoT components for the first time.
Adjusting over time is an essential consideration for human-centric design. If there are UX elements that aren't pleasing consumers, designers need to know about them as soon as possible and respond, updating products to better meet real-world needs.
Updates aren't just spurred by changing user preferences. Designers should be thinking in terms of continuous improvement to keep up with new technology and feature introductions. As additional types of sensors and endpoints become available, the most attentive UX designers will smoothly integrate them into the overall ecosystem.
The IoT, by its connected nature, is a rich source of data about what is working in the current environment and what can be improved. Studying and analyzing this information allows design teams to be highly sensitive to both their users' preferences and the relative usefulness of every component of the network.
Taking IoT design and development seriously means thinking of related projects in a human-centric context from start to finish and considering how they'll become part of a vast, interconnected ecosystem. Both these big-picture matters and day-to-day best practices become easier to implement when your organization has access to expert insights, by working with partners like Transcenda. Our designers and engineers have completed numerous impactful IoT projects and are ready to apply their knowledge to new challenges and opportunities. Examples of this expertise in action include multiple projects for Savant and a smart lock engagement with Yale and August.
There are multiple ways to integrate Transcenda experts into your workflows. We can provide advice on a consultative basis, dropping into your project when needed. We can also offer end-to-end assistance and hands-on design and engineering work, ensuring your new IoT components receive the benefit of our expertise.
The opportunities for IoT expansion are wide open in the years ahead, with AI and ML increasing the power of networks and more connected devices coming online. The creation of new smart buildings with embedded sensors heralds a potential wave of adoption, and your company should give itself the best possible chance of success in this growing space.
Contact Transcenda to see how we can support your IoT project.
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