Hall of Fame & Shame: The Kindle Touch
My Kindle Touch.
Functionality
The Kindle is an e-ink reading device that allows users to carry books with them in digital format on a small, light tablet. The screen has a constantly running stream of advertisements if you don't opt for the more expensive version, but the ads are grayscale and not distracting or intrusive. Once into the main page, the user can see a list of downloaded books and magazines. A simple touch opens the choice text, and smartly places the reader where he or she left off last (on any synced device). The use cases of the Kindle are relatively narrow, but it serves its purpose nicely in providing a personal library in a portable, digital format.
Features I love
I love the e-ink screen. Amazon excels in the experience category with its simple screen that is easy on the eyes. As promised, reading on a Kindle feels very much like reading a paperback book. The serif fonts are a nice contract to web-standard san-serif fonts, and further enforce the reading experience. The spacing and screen size are reminiscent of a favorite novel. I also really like the lightweight nature of the device itself. That is a large selling point, since it eliminates the need to carry multiple bulky books, and it fits in a purse or bag. Additionally, Amazon syncs between devices so if I read a book on my iPhone Kindle App for example, waiting for my coffee at CTB in the morning, and then pick up my Kindle before bed, it opens to the most recently read page which is a great reflection of a traditional bookmark, extending the metaphorical experience for the reader. Another cool feature is the click definitions. Extending beyond the "functions" of a normal book, the user can click on a word at anytime to view the definition. This enriches the reading experience.
Areas for Improvement
The Kindle loses a bit of hits friendliness and charm if you are doing anything besides plain old reading. Granted, that is far and away the goal of the device; however, the functionality is best used in the context of casual reading rather than active studying. Starting from the main menu screen, the user can select a desired text. The touch screen is functional, but has a noticeably slow reaction time when interacting with the menu. Then, the page loads, and unless the user watched and memorized the tutorial the first time the Kindle was used, there is no indication of how to navigate. This is the part that bothers me the most, and stands out as compared to the first generations of Kindles which came with both a keyboard and page turning buttons. The forward motion is relatively easy to figure out, as tapping nearly anywhere on the screen turns the page. The problem arises when the users wants to go back, skip chapters, or move to a specific page. I considered buying a few textbooks on my Kindle, but decided that I would get frustrated with such difficult navigation in the event that I would want to jump back and forth or move to a certain place in the book. While the e-ink and size lend well to the allusion of reading an actual book, the sense of knowing "where" on the page something was is essentially eliminated. I find that without the side-by-side page layout, I lose all track of where to find something when I return in search of a particular quotation or definition.
Suggestion, Version #1
My first suggestion would be to restore the buttons. There is a certain level of tactile expectation associated with reading a book, and to be honest, I feel that the buttons are a very natural way to navigate without even needing to move your hand. My grandfather is a good example of the usefulness of buttons: He typically points at the screen to draw attention or to refocus his eyes, but sometimes he unintentionally makes contact with the screen, causing the page to jump, which frustrates him immensely, particularly because going back a page feels complicated. The drawing below has two sets of simple buttons. The large arrows on either side of the text area would turn the page. I think bigger buttons would be better for this action since it is the common action and will be done subconsciously as the reader wishes to progress in the book. The smaller arrows would be used to turn back entire chapters. The smaller size is because this would be a deliberate action, but it would align with the larger, thumb-sized buttons, in with the orientation of moving backwards and forwards. A trade off is that you lose the "sleek" quality of the current device, but I believe the buttons could be inconspicuous and stylish. Another addition I would make would be a "Bookmark" similar to dog-earring a page of interest. This would facilitate uses such as textbook reading and would allow users to flag certain pages as those with important definitions or those referenced in class. Finally, i would make the button on the bottom both the menu button and the on/off button. Many people understand the concept of using a single button for two purposes with the distinguishing factor being the length of the push (a convention seen in devices like the iPhone), and it would eliminated the visibility issue of the hidden power switch on the current version. From an accessibility standpoint, this could help users like my grandfather who have difficulty working with small buttons, especially ones that are not readily apparent.
The Kindle is an e-ink reading device that allows users to carry books with them in digital format on a small, light tablet. The screen has a constantly running stream of advertisements if you don't opt for the more expensive version, but the ads are grayscale and not distracting or intrusive. Once into the main page, the user can see a list of downloaded books and magazines. A simple touch opens the choice text, and smartly places the reader where he or she left off last (on any synced device). The use cases of the Kindle are relatively narrow, but it serves its purpose nicely in providing a personal library in a portable, digital format.
Features I love
I love the e-ink screen. Amazon excels in the experience category with its simple screen that is easy on the eyes. As promised, reading on a Kindle feels very much like reading a paperback book. The serif fonts are a nice contract to web-standard san-serif fonts, and further enforce the reading experience. The spacing and screen size are reminiscent of a favorite novel. I also really like the lightweight nature of the device itself. That is a large selling point, since it eliminates the need to carry multiple bulky books, and it fits in a purse or bag. Additionally, Amazon syncs between devices so if I read a book on my iPhone Kindle App for example, waiting for my coffee at CTB in the morning, and then pick up my Kindle before bed, it opens to the most recently read page which is a great reflection of a traditional bookmark, extending the metaphorical experience for the reader. Another cool feature is the click definitions. Extending beyond the "functions" of a normal book, the user can click on a word at anytime to view the definition. This enriches the reading experience.
Areas for Improvement
The Kindle loses a bit of hits friendliness and charm if you are doing anything besides plain old reading. Granted, that is far and away the goal of the device; however, the functionality is best used in the context of casual reading rather than active studying. Starting from the main menu screen, the user can select a desired text. The touch screen is functional, but has a noticeably slow reaction time when interacting with the menu. Then, the page loads, and unless the user watched and memorized the tutorial the first time the Kindle was used, there is no indication of how to navigate. This is the part that bothers me the most, and stands out as compared to the first generations of Kindles which came with both a keyboard and page turning buttons. The forward motion is relatively easy to figure out, as tapping nearly anywhere on the screen turns the page. The problem arises when the users wants to go back, skip chapters, or move to a specific page. I considered buying a few textbooks on my Kindle, but decided that I would get frustrated with such difficult navigation in the event that I would want to jump back and forth or move to a certain place in the book. While the e-ink and size lend well to the allusion of reading an actual book, the sense of knowing "where" on the page something was is essentially eliminated. I find that without the side-by-side page layout, I lose all track of where to find something when I return in search of a particular quotation or definition.
Suggestion, Version #1
My first suggestion would be to restore the buttons. There is a certain level of tactile expectation associated with reading a book, and to be honest, I feel that the buttons are a very natural way to navigate without even needing to move your hand. My grandfather is a good example of the usefulness of buttons: He typically points at the screen to draw attention or to refocus his eyes, but sometimes he unintentionally makes contact with the screen, causing the page to jump, which frustrates him immensely, particularly because going back a page feels complicated. The drawing below has two sets of simple buttons. The large arrows on either side of the text area would turn the page. I think bigger buttons would be better for this action since it is the common action and will be done subconsciously as the reader wishes to progress in the book. The smaller arrows would be used to turn back entire chapters. The smaller size is because this would be a deliberate action, but it would align with the larger, thumb-sized buttons, in with the orientation of moving backwards and forwards. A trade off is that you lose the "sleek" quality of the current device, but I believe the buttons could be inconspicuous and stylish. Another addition I would make would be a "Bookmark" similar to dog-earring a page of interest. This would facilitate uses such as textbook reading and would allow users to flag certain pages as those with important definitions or those referenced in class. Finally, i would make the button on the bottom both the menu button and the on/off button. Many people understand the concept of using a single button for two purposes with the distinguishing factor being the length of the push (a convention seen in devices like the iPhone), and it would eliminated the visibility issue of the hidden power switch on the current version. From an accessibility standpoint, this could help users like my grandfather who have difficulty working with small buttons, especially ones that are not readily apparent.
Suggestion, Version #2
If the touch screen capability must stay, I'd make a few changes. In the drawing, I move the power button to the top. Keeping with my logic from the previous suggestion, I would make the button more visible and easier to interact with. It take away from the clean design by adding something additional to the front of the interface, but if the button is flat, the sleek style can be maintained. Next, I would make progress more visual, rather than simply using a percentage as on the current version. This would help with situational awareness of the reader, being able to see a representation of what has been completed and what remains. I would use a bar with chapter delimiters, highlighting the current chapter, and adding a place marker (the arrow in the drawing). In order to change chapters, the user could simply tap on the chapter they wanted in the progress bar. By placing it at the top, there is less chance of accidental tapping since it is not where the thumb would naturally fall when holding the Kindle. To accompany the percentage label, I would also add a page label that corresponds to the print version. This would be useful for discussion purposed in a class setting. Finally, I would change the way that the user turned pages. By adding a simple page corner icon in the bottom left and right, the user sees a clear affordance for page turning, as well as creating a visual mapping of going forward and backward on actual paper.
If the touch screen capability must stay, I'd make a few changes. In the drawing, I move the power button to the top. Keeping with my logic from the previous suggestion, I would make the button more visible and easier to interact with. It take away from the clean design by adding something additional to the front of the interface, but if the button is flat, the sleek style can be maintained. Next, I would make progress more visual, rather than simply using a percentage as on the current version. This would help with situational awareness of the reader, being able to see a representation of what has been completed and what remains. I would use a bar with chapter delimiters, highlighting the current chapter, and adding a place marker (the arrow in the drawing). In order to change chapters, the user could simply tap on the chapter they wanted in the progress bar. By placing it at the top, there is less chance of accidental tapping since it is not where the thumb would naturally fall when holding the Kindle. To accompany the percentage label, I would also add a page label that corresponds to the print version. This would be useful for discussion purposed in a class setting. Finally, I would change the way that the user turned pages. By adding a simple page corner icon in the bottom left and right, the user sees a clear affordance for page turning, as well as creating a visual mapping of going forward and backward on actual paper.
