Jony Ive’s departure from Apple was a huge announcement in June. He is one of the few designers who have been able to use his influence to educate the public on human-technology relationships. As more people interact with different forms of technology, there is the expectation that at the first interaction a person will understand how the device functions and that the abilities of the device or application are clear.
Intuition is a big part of interface design, and it’s the core to principles like “Matching the System to the Real World” and “Recognition Over Recall.” Intuitive design is the foundation for successful user experiences; a person wants to be able to navigate a maps app or easily access their reward points at a store. In robotic control systems, intuitive design for gesture-based controls is crucial for the best user interface. Tomahawk Robotics incorporates minimalistic design with functionality and ergonomics to create clear user interfaces for effortless control of UAV’s and UVG’s.
Simplify Interfaces for Easy Use
It’s not uncommon for robotics to be used in SWAT missions to deliver a payload or to survey unstable ground and you don’t want the user to be slowed down by a complicated or cluttered interface. Our Kinesis Mimic controller is based on minimalistic design, featuring the standard A B X Y button diamond and straightforward movement, power buttons, and an analog trigger. Users can operate the inertial based 6 DOF input without confusion.
We work to create technology that follows Miller’s Law, based on the findings of George Miller, which states that a person’s capacity for processing information is limited to roughly seven independent items at a time. Mimic’s design is based on this idea and it doesn’t require the user to make any additional calculations or thought, allowing them to focus solely on making decisions necessary to the mission.
Uniform Design and Seamless Integration
Users who utilize UAV surveillance, manipulate robotics, and who need to analyze data don’t want to waste time deciphering the meaning of an icon, alert, or word. Control systems must integrate seamlessly with pre-existing hardware and mobile devices in order to make understand the interface easier for users.
Accessible for All Users
Flexibility is an important aspect to consider when designing user-based technology. The design must be useful for users of varying levels of experience, whether it’s someone who may be unfamiliar with technology, or for someone who is an expert. Mimic includes vibrotactile haptic feedback so that users can be sure of system status or operation. Mimic is accessible to users who are not familiar with robotics, but it also works with Kinesis Mobile to allow for a wide range of advanced control features.
Ease-of-use is the foundation of our Kinesis Robotic IoT software as we incorporate familiar icons and terminology for any device that might be used. Check out our robotic IoT control system to learn more about how it can work for you.
