Mobile App Europe 2014 Notes

So Easy a Child Could Do It - Designing Mobile Apps for Kids

Notes on a session by Kathryn Rotondo (motherboardpodcast.com) at the Mobile App Europe 2014.

Consider physical abilities of children of various ages.

Categories in Apple’s AppStore:

• 5 & under
• ages 6-8
• ages 9-11

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• Single hand usage, other hand might rest on the device
• Landscape orientation

##Gestures

###Tap

• Taps and Longtaps should make the same
• Kids appreciate immediate feedback, react on touch rather on lift
• Large hit areas with large gaps inbetween

###Draw

• Might be difficult to stay in touch until the end - support partial completion

###Swipe

• Add an arrow as well

###Drag and Drop

• Leave prematurely dropped item where it was dropped, do not move to the dock

###Not so appropriate

• Double Tap
• Pinch Zoom
• Multi touch
• Shake and Tilt
• Flick and Fling

##Flow of the app

1. Greet the child
2. Give instruction - state objective, how to accomplish the objective - read it (audio might not work well)
3. Timeouts - kid might be distracted, options: give suggestions what to do next, reminder, proceed, shut down
4. Corrections - be nice if kids get an answer wrong, give encouraging, incremental feedback:
   1. “That was wrong - try again”
   2. “We’re looking for the robot”
   3. “It has red eyes”
   4. Let it blink the eyes
   5. Move forward - don’t block the flow
   6. Say it with a smile
5. Rewards - repeat what they done right (“Nice job in drawing the A!”), a sticker screen to collect stickers - kids love it!
6. Feedback - interact with the child (eyes of a character follow movements of gestures or objects
7. End of play - home&replay - show them what to do at the end of the app

##Text and Sound ###Text

• No reading
• Button Icons - use standard buttons metaphors
• Fonts - use the shapes the kids can recognize (different shapes of ‘a’)
• Highlighting of text (words) in the speed of audio

###Sound

• Background, feedback (right/wrong)
• Make sure not to jump the parents off the cliff
• Concise - “If you want to … - turn the page” (not the other way around)

##Include Content for Parents ###Register/Login

• Can assume help from grown ups
• Add unique character/image/picture of the child
• Baby Gates - avoid kid coming to purchases, social networks (written instructions, change operation/gestures each time)

###Parent Tips

• Don’t expect parents to read
• Be absolutely open what you … (?)
• US: CAPA - Children’s online privacy protection act

##Resources

• Sesame Best Practices (2012)
• Design for Kids (Book)
• Apple’s Parental Gates Guide
• Moms with Apps (website)