Part 2. Input

While the first part of this book was mostly theoretical, in this part things get more practical. For many people, mobile devices started out as consumption-focused devices, but due to their ubiquity and the rich input capabilities they contain, they soon evolved to be considered equally as creation devices. The ability to capture and create data has been the source of a revolution in publishing and has changed many industries forever. Whether it’s part of the increase in written personal communication or the capturing of videos or pictures, input drives the apps that enable this.

Should you consider input before or after output? You may argue that until the app outputs guidance on where, when, and how input should be provided, the person using it won’t be able to provide suitable input. This way of thinking is app focused, but to create an app that provides the best experience for the people using it, you need to put the user first. That’s why I spent the last three chapters talking about context. It’s important to focus on the value the person will get from using the app before considering how it looks or what’s asked of the person using the app.