Mobile Interfaces

Introduction

The article I chose to do this project was about an design that Motorola has been working on with the designers of Frog mobile technology. This paper will outline a few key topics that have to deal with the article and the over design of the product. This product has yet to be release on to the market, the projected release date is sometime in 2006.

Development

Customization is a growing trend in technology. When it comes to mobile technology, user interfaces become not only an issue when it comes to keeping up the interface to accommodate new functionality, but also for users who want more customizable interfaces. Technology is no longer just used for its intended purposes anymore. It has become an extension of fashion. The challenge for mobile technology producers is to create a product interface, which combines convenience and ease of use, while at the same time keeping up with the aesthetic wants of the customer. For many mobile technology users, their mobile technology has become almost an extension of their person. In today's times, creating products, which dynamically respond to the needs and wants of the user, is a necessity.

Developers

Frog Design & Motorola

Hartmut Esslinger of Germany designed Frog Design in 1969. Through the years, Frog has developed successful design development relationships with numerous big name organizations industry-wide, ranging from Sony to Sun Microsystems. As a result, Frog has created a reputable reputation and has since grown to include brand and digital media to their repertoire. Today, Frog Design is globally located in five locations including Germany and the United States.

Motorola has long been one of the leading companies in the communications industry with their mobility products and solutions. Today, as a Fortune 100 company, Motorola specializes in four business sectors: Connected Home Solutions, Government and Enterprise Mobility Solutions, Mobile Devices, and Networks.

Frog Design and Motorola have pooled their efforts to create the mobile technology concept known as the "Offspring." The Offspring consists of a set of wireless wearable devices communicating via Bluetooth technology: Wearable Digital Assistant (WDA), Wristable, Goggles, Digi-cam, and Comport. Additional, optional devices include the Radio-button and Intelli-pen.

The WDA (Wearable Digital Assistant) serves as the central linking device between the rest of the Offspring components and allows for a wireless connection to an Integrated Dispatch Enhanced Network (iDEN). This device operates through voice recognition, video-game-like navigation, and permits large capacity store for audio and visual data. The Wristable contains the same functionality and serves the identical purpose of the WDA but is worn on the wrist like a watch. The materials comprising the Wristable are slightly cheaper-made, plastic and rubber, and displays in black and white as opposed to the color display of the WDA. The Wristable allows for more convenient access to the device by putting it on your wrist as opposed to carrying the WDA. The WDA and Wristable also hold the main functionalities of the Offspring, which include, but are not limited to, cell phone and PDA. As this device continues to develop, voice recognition abilities can be further developed for a more dynamic experience by allowing the user to program their own voice commands as opposed to preset commands.

The Goggles incorporate the features of 800 x 600 visual display and works hand-in-hand with the Digi-cam and Comport. Due to the large power requirements of the device, it must be plugged into an external power supply with an attached cord. The Digi-cam is a Bluetooth enabled digital camera. The camera may be clipped onto any piece of clothing and pictures are taken via a tethered shutter button. Digital images are directly and immediately sent to either the WDA or Wristable after they have been taken. The Comport is a hands-free