Human and Computer Interaction - Interacting with an Ipad - Assignment Example

Interacting with an Ipad Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Name Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Course Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Lecturer Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 20th April, 2012. Contents Contents 1 Introduction 3 Discussion 3 Strength 4 Weakness 4 Opportunity 4 Handwritings 5 Strength 5 Weakness 5 Opportunity 6 Threat 6 Performance 6 Strength 6 Weakness 7 Opportunity 7 Threat 7 Dictation 7 Strength 8 Weakness 8 Opportunity 8 Threats 9 Networking and Pc connectivity 9 Strength 10 Weakness 10 Threats 10 Navigation on an Ipad 10 Strength of navigation on an Ipad 11 Weakness 12 Opportunity 12 Threats 12 Conclusion 12 References 13 Introduction The recently introduced ipad 3 has been praised as a new generation of computing devices poised to take the place of laptops and tablet pc. An ipad is a device that can be classified as being between a phone and a laptop; however its praise may be misplaced as some of these glorifying comments come from enthusiastic users of the device. In this review we look at various interactions between the ipad 3, other devices and its users (Coulton and Bamford 2012, pp. 13). The review looks at various user interaction and analyzes them generally and then proceeds to look at the strength and weakness of the capability under discussion and then looks at the opportunity that apple might exploit in the market by use of that capability, finally it examines competing technologies that might threaten apples competitive advantage gained through the interaction being reviewed. Discussion Transferring camera shots to Ipad 3 The new I pad uses two thumb sized docks the Dock connector SD-card Reader and ordinary Universal Serial Bus to interact with storage devices used in digital cameras. Both can be used to transfer images to and from the Ipad, the two connection hubs are collectively called the Ipad connection kit .The designers pre-installed software into the tablet that eases the interaction with the computer meaning you do not have to take time to install the software (National geographic 2012). Source: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ Once you connect both the Dock-connector SD-card reader, the ipad screen immediately bring up thumbnails of the images contained in the card, which load one after the other. When you select a thumbnail it offers the option of importing into the I-pads internal memory. Strength The I-pad can display the images in their raw format or in JPEG format and also enables the changing of aspects like brightness and hue on the raw image (Väätäjä 2009, pp.69) Weakness The connecting cables most of the times have to be exactly the ones shipped with the cameras being connected to the ipad or the results will not be very good sometimes with no display at all. Opportunity The I-pad should be marketed as a device for editing photos Threats Most of the application used to edit photos on the ipad are not owned by its manufacturer and can be adopted for use on other tablets. Handwritings One of the software available for input on the Ipad is the writepad; an application that allows one to input text content using a finger or a stylus pen. This application works like an ordinary text processor but it is different in that you do not input in the ordinary sense using a keyboard. One of the key functionality that the application owes to the ipad design is the ability to input using fingers only. The application lifts the image of the new ipad as a tool for using on the web by enabling easier posting of text to social sites (Phelan 2012). The writepad performs great with text input that taking a minute more than input using either the onboard or the Bluetooth keyboard. This software provides users with an alternative method of text input when one is unable to use the online keyboard or the Bluetooth one (Miasnikov 2012). The software enables user to import content from other editors and work on it inside writepad; the application allows for saving and sending of files through the Wi-Fi from the ipad to another ipad or iphone, it can also print on Wi-Fi printers. Strength It offers an alternative to keyboard inputting seen as being erroneous in some reviews. Weakness The software however has been described in some quarters as lacking good handwriting interpretation capabilities. Opportunity The i-pad supports sensitive input movement on its screen and developers can target this to develop handwriting input software with better capabilities. Threat There is still no software available for the Ipad for handwritten input that does not unnecessarily trouble user with careful formation of characters. Performance The Apple Ipad has been praised in many quarters for its smooth performance. Coming with a 1GHz A5x processor, the New Ipad does not have delays in processing requests while you are doing your work. Although not exceptionally fast it does not have those irritating hung-up associated with systems with systems with similar low processing speeds. Designed mostly for work on the internet the new ipad offers more than average satisfaction while browsing the web (Apple 2012). The ipad does not show any lag in loading pages other than where the internet connection speeds are low. The Ipad supports browsing in HTML5 a html version that has more stability. Strength The ipad browsing capabilities does not waste the time of users as it does not lag while loading or switching between pages. Weakness The Ipad 3rd generation just like its predecessors does not support Flash, which is viewed in some quarters as taking away some of the pleasure of browsing with the device. However some experts believe apple have moved in the right direction in adopting HTML5 instead of flash as flash content on the web is mostly undesirable advertisements and adds to the overall instability of WebPages (Hassenzahl 2009). Opportunity Apple should continually improve the performance of the ipad as mobile internet accessing devices that perform exceptionally are in great demand among users. Threat Competitors can develop devices that support playing of flash videos threatening apple’s hold on the tablet a market Dictation With so many complains about text input on the ipad 3 using keyboards the ipad ought to have a alternative way for inputting text other than typing, this is provided by the capabilities where you can dictate word while it inputs them. Once you bring the onboard keyboard to the screen while connected to the internet they is a microphone key, once you have touched it you can now start dictating carefully making sure it senses your punctuation marks (Gaver 2009). With the Ipad 3 users are able to input dictated text directly into emails. Source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/5778/apple-ipad-3rd-generation-review Strength Unlike other input software on similar devices the dictation on the ipad does not make the user repeat the transcription once he makes a pronunciation mistake. Weakness You have to activate it using the onboard keyboard meaning when it is not working you cannot use the dictation feature as an alternative input method. Opportunity The dictation capability can be a good selling point for the ipad to visually impaired individuals. Threats The dictation capability is available on many mobile devices including phones and tablets. Networking and Pc connectivity Connectivity to networks has been reported to be one of the few factors that negate the Ipad 3 reputations as an exceptional computing device. The Ipad-three comes with Wi-Fi connecting capabilities and 3G in premium versions (HLW 2012). To enable connection to phone networks at the back an ipad has a black stripping to enhance connectivity to 3G networks. The 3G model of ipad3 has a micro-SIM slot on the side where a micro sim card is inserted. Speeds of internet connectivity depend on the provider’s phone network and the technology they use for connectivity. The ipad can connect to the internet and take voice calls on EDGE, CDMA, 3-G and 4-G. An ipad 3 internet connecting speed is very good and can sometimes be faster than connection of other devices on local Wi-Fi. However, one of the factors that lower the ipad 3 connectivity profile is the lack of support for Bluetooth connectivity by its operating system. From time to time a user will need to access and relocate files to the PC or from it; an ipad connects with a pc in three distinct ways including i-tunes sync connection, if both the PC and the ipad are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, cable connectors or Bluetooth connection (Gaver 2009, pp.34). A cable connection offers the best option for transmitting files to and from the ipad in no time, while a Bluetooth connection is slow and is likely to bog down a user. A user can use Wi-Fi and 3G to connect to his/her computer while she is far away with the ipad us, but some software bridges have to be used (Digeek.com 2012). To log in to a computer running windows remotely a server component must be installed. The control and speed of remote connections on phone networks is dependent of providers speed, a user is able to establish control over his computer even when they are very far (HLW 2012). Strength The ipad offers it user’s different alternatives to connect to both Wi-Fi and 3G networks. Weakness The Ipad has shown problems connecting to networks and was recently withdrawn in Australia for not being incompatible with networks there (Dey, Abowd and Salber 2009, pp.102) Opportunity Future ipad’s should be compatible with 4G networks to enable faster speeds while accessing the web. Threats Other tablet Developers come up with devices that are compatible with local networks placing the ipad originally designed for US networks at a disadvantage. Navigation on an Ipad One of the factors that make an ipad a great product is the ability to help people know where they are and negotiate their way to a particular point they want to go to. One of the iPad’s preinstalled applications is useful by individuals travelling through geographical regions they are not familiar with. The Ipad gives a user direction they can use to travel from one point to another even across state and international boundaries (Apple .com 2012). A search for a user’s locations leads to the display of map with the present location of a person shown as blue dot from which arrows to location destination directing the user on how to get to there. An Ipad employs different methods to pinpoint user’s location non-3G iPods’ triangulate location using Wi-Fi signals, while the 3g versions use A-GPS and signals from the company providing internet services. Source: Http. blog.karachicorner.com Strength of navigation on an Ipad Offers direction that means a user can travel confidently without having to be worried about getting lost even in places they have never been. Weakness The positioning and navigation system relies on Wi-Fi and cellular signals and thus would be of no use in places where such signals do not reach (McMillan, Morrison and Chalmers 2012). Opportunity Apple can develop a navigation system that can overcome the signal reliance problem enabling the company position the ipad as the ultimate navigational device. Furthermore apple can develop the map application to give audio direction to its users. Threats Google’s software in the field of navigation are very advanced and are available free of charge thus overshadowing the iPods’ reputation as a navigation device. Conclusion The apple ipad 3 shows remarkably good performance in its interaction with other devices and networks. The Ipad offers hassle free transfer of images from camera storage devices by enabling connection to memory card readers and the cameras themselves. Its various internet connection capabilities coupled with very good browsing performance make the ipad the device of choice for people who constantly have to use the internet. Positioning through Wi-Fi triangulation and through use of 3-G network capability also positions the ipad 3 as the device of choice among travelers. Apple can improve the Ipad 3 by overcoming the weaknesses noted in the ipad 3 in this review and by also seizing the opportunity available to them in the gadget market while watching carefully in what direction the developers of similar competing technologies are moving. References Apple .com 2012, Apple’s ipad Tablet Most Advanced Technology and Revolutionary Device, 18th April 2012, http://blog.karachicorner.com/2010/01/apple%E2%80%99s-ipad-tablet-most-advanced-technology-and-revolutionary-device/ Apple 2012, Technical specifications, 18th April 2012 ,http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ Coulton, P. & Bamford, W. 2012, Experimenting Through Mobile ‘Apps’ and ‘App Stores’ International Journal of Mobile Human Computer Interaction (IJMHCI), volume 3, pp. 55-70. Dey, K. A, Abowd, G.D Salber, D. 2009, A Conceptual Framework and a Toolkit for Supporting the Rapid Prototyping of Context-Aware Applications International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, volume 12, issue 4, pp 97-166 Digeek.com 2012, New iPad 3 review: Internet and connectivity, 18th April 2012, http://digeek.com/new-ipad-3-review-internet-and-connectivity.html Gaver, W. 2009, Auditory Icons: Using Sound in Computer Interfaces, International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, volume 2, issue 2, pp 167-177 Hassenzahl, M. 2009, The Interplay of Beauty, Goodness, and Usability in Interactive Products International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, Volume 19, Issue 4, pp 319-349 HLW 2012, iTap mobile RDP (Remote Desktop for Windows), 18th April 2012, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itap-mobile-rdp-remote-desktop/id317062064?mt=8 McMillan, D., Morrison, A., Chalmers, M. 2012, A Comparison of Distribution Channels for Large-Scale Deployments of iOS Applications International Journal of Mobile Human Computer Interaction (IJMHCI), Volume 4, issue 2, pp. 1-17 Miasnikov, S. 2012, Writepad for ipad, 18th April 2012, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/writepad-for-ipad/id363618389?mt=8 Writepad for ipad National geographic 2012, National Geographic on ipad, -Apps, Games, Maps 18th April 2012, http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ipad/ Phelan, D 2012, Apple ipad (3rd generation) review, 18th April 2012, http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/5778/apple-ipad-3rd-generation-review Väätäjä, H. 2009, Mobile Work Efficiency: Balancing between Benefits, Costs and Sacrifices, International Journal of Mobile Human Computer Interaction (IJMHCI), pp. 67-87 Read More