User Experience Predictions for 2011

A new year always brings a new set of predictions on the technological outlook for the near future. Below are some of my UX predictions for 2011 that gives you a glimpse of what’s in store. If you have some predictions of your own, I’d love to hear them!

Moving to an all app world

With the recent Mac App Store now open and the iPhone coming to Verizon in just a couple weeks, it’s clear that user expectations are changing. We’re getting used to the idea of having smaller (in terms of complexity) applications, and more of them. Apps are highly focused, getting users up-to-speed and off-and-running right away to get specific tasks done. This is great right? Yes! But it also means that when people use applications, they may be less forgiving if the user experience is just so-so or takes too long to learn.

Android full steam ahead

More and more apps will be coming onto the marketplace, because there are just simply more devices. “Mobile” usage is rising, but the definition of mobile is not just restricted to devices that make phone calls. Tablets make it easy to be productive and easily accessible without the bulk of a full-fledged laptop and with the multitude of Android tablets available and coming available, Apple’s going to have a run for its money. What this means for UX designers is that we need to become more adept and fluent with a greater range of platforms, screen sizes, and device capabilities and find better ways to deliver consistent experiences regardless of the device. Conditions are ripe for more comprehensive mobile standards and I think they are coming just around the corner.

Privacy walls coming down?

As the cloud gets bigger and people have become more accustomed to the convenience of storing their data everywhere else but at home, people seem to be growing less apprehensive about privacy issues. Though security is still going to continue to be critically important, people seem to be more willing to release their private or sensitive information onto web-based applications so they can get things done or share their info with others. For UX designers this means that we need to continue improving the way we communicate the value that our websites or applications bring to the customer so they are inclined to convert and become loyal users.

Continued rise and exploration of gestural user interface

Thanks to gaming systems like the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Kinect, we’re getting more and more comfortable with using the movement of our bodies to manipulate visual interfaces. My, how we’ve truly come full circle in terms of human factors! The path has been paved to create a new generation of hands-free yet highly interactive experiences that could change lives, and not just entertain.

Apps, mobile, the cloud, and gestural user interface will continue to be the rage this year as technology improves and more innovative players come into the market. From this designer’s perspective, these avenues have tremendous potential and growth will only increase the demand and need for user experience guidance in the coming year.

Do you agree? Share your thoughts for 2011!