No physical or visual interaction needed
If you are reading this post, then I am sure you are accessing it through Medium’s blog interface, or simply the Medium User Interface (UI).
User Interface is the means by which a user controls and interacts with a software application or hardware device in a natural and intuitive way. In a simple term, we can say UI is all about the aesthetics of programming, the appearance (graphical layout), with a notion to improve user experience. It includes buttons that users click, reading text, text entry fields, images, sliders, screen layout, transitions, interface animations, and all remaining items the user may interact with.
Globally, the average user looks at a screen for a total of 6 hours and 57 minutes per day (for internet-connected activities), according to statistics from DataReportal. And most of that (3 hours, 43 minutes) is used on a mobile device. This includes 55 minutes of podcast listening, 1 hour, 33 minutes of streaming music, and 2 hours, 27 minutes of social media scrolling.
So, with those stats, we can say that screen-based UI has a greater blend with humans on a daily basis; however, the rise of zero UI is a new trajectory.
What is Zero-UI?
Zero User Interface, or Zero-UI, is an increasingly popular concept first coined by designer Andy Goodman, formerly at Accenture Interactive’s agency. However, the term might be new to you, but you have been experiencing Zero-UI.
If you are using
- Amazon, then Alexa
- Google, then Google Assistant
- Apple, then Siri
- Microsoft, then Cortana
- Samsung, then Bixby
In Zero-UI, you will interact with devices in a more natural way compared to screen-based devices as it requires no physical or visual interaction and can be gesture-based or include voice recognition.
3 ways we are experiencing Zero-UI
1. Voice Recognition and Control UI
If a client hasn’t already asked for voice control, you can guess that they will within the next year or two at least,”
— Billy Lally, founder, Mode:Green
Hey Siri, Call Aama is my daily utterance in my day, and my brother keeps saying Google Home light on,” and I am sure likewise you have one too. With increasing use of voice control, various industries now integrate voice technology as a key feature, including smart phones, speakers, headphones, televisions, PCs, appliances, automotive, and enterprise, says SARInsight. If you open any apps, you are more likely to see voice-based search.
2. Context Awareness UI
When was the last time you were interrupted by a friend while listening to a podcast in the university library? If you were using Airpods, then imagine that, as your friend approached you, you pulled out your right-side airpod (I guess if you are right-handed) and the podcast you were listening to was also paused, right?
Yes, that is context awareness. You, Airpod, reduced the overall need to interact with the settings of a device or app to deliver the users what they want (here, to pause the podcast).
3. Haptic Feedbacks UI
Also called vibration-based feedback, this term is not so unfamiliar compared to others. We have been using this with our mobile phones, but the Apple Watch made it the talk of the town when users received a message with the vibration on their hand. On top of this, Apple Airpods have haptic feedback, as they can control the volume and play and pause audio.
So here, if you see, you have already been a witness to Zero-UI and how it is impacting our daily interactions with our gadget.
By providing a more seamless and intuitive experience, zero-UI technology has the potential to transform the way we engage with our gadgets and technology. We must embrace this technology and begin to fully explore its potential as we go toward a more connected society. Whether you’re a developer, designer, or entrepreneur, there are endless opportunities to produce cutting-edge solutions that can improve the user experience and encourage the use of zero-UI technology.
What are some of the challenges that you foresee in the adoption of zero-UI technology, and how do you think we can overcome them? Please share your thoughts and insights in the comments below.
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