App Development 04

An opening screen has been designed, as through research it was shown that both children and parents want to have a grasp of what the app is about and what is the purpose of it as soon as they open up, if not it may cause them to shut the app down and become disinterested. This way there is a short description which engages them and entices them into the app and there will be a more in depth description if they want it, available on the home page screen. 

A design decision was made to use this style and layout of home screen, as it makes it easier to distinguish between the two different logins, especially with colour coding as well. The home screen as well as the loading screen can be turned and viewed in both portrait and landscape, as this is the one page that both parents and children will be going therefore it needs to be in the most appropriate layout for each of them, therefore it can be rotated each way. 

The buttons on these pages have been enlarged to research into Apple User Interface design instructions, that the buttons need to be at least 44 point, to make it easily accessible and pressed on by a single finger, otherwise it will be too hard to line up the finger with the button. Also with children this is even more so important as some haven't fully developed their motor development therefore may find hand eye coordination hard, therefore the buttons need to be larger than usual, and they are also larger than those found on the parent section as they don't need to be as big there. 
 The buttons have also been spaced out for the same reasons, so therefore they don't accidentally press on specific buttons whilst aiming for a different one. 
 Same with the text the text size has been enlarged to achieve maximum readability at point size 11 and point size 24. 

Similar to the previous screens the point size for the cursive handwriting typeface has been enlarged to maximise readability and also the size of the buttons have been as well, due to Apple's UI Do's and Don'ts, the buttons need to be larger therefore they are the right sized target for a finger to click or press on them. As the screens above, the buttons have also been more spaced out which not only makes it easier for children to click and interact with the buttons but also means that they are in an easy to read layout. 

These screens will be animated, the step by step screens shows how this will work and how it will look once it is complete. The first shows a short animation of how to draw a letter, from which the user must then copy. Once they complete this the second screen shows the stars which shows praise as through research this shows the child that they have done well and the unlocking of different colours to use for the pen gives them a purpose and incentive to continue learning on the app.

The colours used within the children's section of the app have tried to be gender neaitral but also make sure the colours are vibrant and colourful at the same time. The order of the colours, specifically on the buttons changes throughout the app to create interest and engagement with the colours and the app itself. 

On the parents section of the app, the app is portrait as it is easier to hold and scroll through and read the information. The colour scheme has been subdued and uses only two colours from the previous colour scheme as it makes it easier to read and look at for an adult. The colourful schemes would be too vibrant and there would be too much going on, on the screen, the most important thing for them is the information, therefore the easier this is to read and concentrate on and the easier it is to navigate the better. Therefore the colours aren't as important as on the children's section. 

The buttons have also been made smaller than on the children's app, as parents and adults will have better hand eye coordination and will find it easier to press buttons, they are still appropriate size, just not as exaggerated as the children's app. The new added option of 'Progress' cam about from feedback that there needs to be a more interactive level between the adults and children. Therefore the adults can now view their child's progress and watch playback videos of how their child has been drawing the letters and how far they have come.
 Again the typeface sizes have been enlarged to point size 11 as this is the most legible size on screen any smaller than this then the user will find it harder to read and may have to zoom in.