Areas of the Modero X Panoramic Interface Template
The current Modero X Panoramic template (Fig. 1) was designed using a gridded layout. A global grid determines the arrangement of content and controls screen-wide. While permitting easy scanning and organization, this forces the entire interface to be oriented towards the bottom of the screen. If you are laying out elements differently or without a grid, give careful consideration to content and control orientation. Users find an application easier to use when its interface is visually unified and presents a consistent and predictable work environment. The following sections will describe each portion of the global grid as well as assets and functions utilized within the design.
The template example demonstrates a 20” Touch Panel. The template is composed of five key functional areas:
- Main Touch Panel Control Bar
- Room Controls
- Activity Area
- Device Controls
- Task Bar
These areas should be used consistently for the labeled functions to allow for ease of learning the interface by end users. The Main Touch Panel Control Bar functions as a persistent location for tools such as Room Power, Volume and Mute. It is the first location a user will look to for these frequently used functions and is always located at the top of the screen. Keeping Volume tools at the top and right side of the screen allows for users to find them quickly in emergency situations where volume levels may initially be too high upon beginning an activity. Naming the Main Touch Panel Control with a title that designates the name and location of the touch panel provides instant recognition for end users. Room controls are always located on the left side of the screen and includes functions such as Lights, Climate, Shades, Projector, Screen and Help. The center area of the screen is a preview called Activity Area. Here current functions being performed by the touch panel will
be shown and users will be able to swipe through various open activities. Device controls should always be positioned on
the right. Upon beginning an activity, users will naturally look to the right and use their right hand to navigate this area. The Task Bar fills the bottom of the screen and includes high level functions for specific devices that are accessible to the system. Secondary tools such as Room Settings and Room Schedule may be placed here as well. Because this is the primary method of navigating between tasks, this bar should always be placed at the bottom and should be persistent regardless of which other screens or windows are open. Lower placement allows ease of use, as the user’s hand reaches and travels from bottom to top on the screen. Primary functions should also be centered to allow for proximity association of current functions being shown in the Activity Area and what is highlighted on the Task Bar (Fig. 2). Active tasks are shown as highlighted where all other available tasks are shown without highlight in the background.
Figure 2
The Room and Device Control areas also include secondary windows for additional functionality to be displayed (Fig 3.) The secondary window for Room Control contains environmental functions such as controls for lights, temperature, shades, projector and screen. The secondary window for Device Control contains functions related to activities or the source device. This space displays items such as Contacts and the Audio/Video Conference dialing pad, or transport controls for the DVD player.