“Get to the goal in a clear and simple way”
Smartwatch App Design Guideline
When it comes to wearables, what would be usually thought of as a good thing in human interactions it's not necessarily the best idea. For instance, while in the interaction of human begins with others having more options, information and explanations is better, in the interaction with SmartWatches or other wearables these might come up as confusing.
The communications with wearables are straightforward at best. Quick, simple, clear and easy to follow interfaces make the interactions easier to the user and avoid him from making mistakes.
Contrary to what it would seem, learning procedures or memorizing steps in order to launch or browse through an App make the interaction complicated. If the user needs to spend more time on his attempts to connect to a bluetooth, or needs to perform a series of right or left swipes to access an app than he does on his smartphone, then where is the "Smart" on a SmartWatch?
A learning experience should invite the user to grasp the new know-how. This invitation can be accepted or declined by the user.
Give a range of maneuverability, freedom and flexibility to the user.
Avoid forcing the user into an anticipated decision.
Disconnecting and connecting with devices near or worn by the user should be done with ease.
Connectivity should be architected to be simple, intuitive and quick to do by the targeted audience or user.
In some cases, it may even be simplified to an automatic connection but still respecting the user's empowerment.
Interactions should be clear and easy to perform by the user as possible. Therefore, it is vital to maintain the native interactions and/or well known interactions by them.
The right interaction for the right task is a must in the smartwatch world, for instance, voice input is promoted for commands and to simplify complex writing for the user.
Be consistent with the way users navigate. Use understandable affordances that communicate effective feedback to satisfy the user's predictions with a short time span and without hesitation.
Allow the user to recover from errors easily.
At the push of a button the app searches for the song and displays the name, saving it on your phone. Simple and fast, achieving the desired task for the user.
To respond messages, voice command input is available for long answers. Predefined words and phrases are displayed for short responses, and to communicate with an emoticon, a symbol can be drawn to bring up similar icons user can select to send.
Some game apps are not providing the standard exit swipe option, and the close option remains a mystery. Designers should reconsider providing a new interaction and if really necessary, provide a walkthrough for the novice user a couple of times.