Here enters HTML5!

HTML5 offers the perfect solution for this problem. The WORA (Write Once, Run Anywhere) feature of HTML5 is the main reason why it enjoys and maintains such a strong position in the mobile world. HTML5, which was initially created to develop static catalog websites has come a long way, where it is capable to handle applications in fields ranging from business intelligence and gaming to social engagement and entertainment. Factually, has a share of about 68% in the mobile development industry.

Now, let’s discuss the features of HTML5 in more detail, which makes it the future of the web.

• New Tags in HTML5
The new tags in HTML5 are introduced to enhance the HTML code and make it more meaningful. For instance, initially the developers were using div tag, but now they are offered with a whole set of new tags like header, footer and nav. This has turned HTML into a lot more productive language.

• Supports web applications offline
With HTML5, it is possible to create web applications which can be used without internet access. Moreover, they function equally smoothly as with an Internet Connection. In fact, it also allows one to save data to local databases.

• Storage Capabilities
HTML5 enables you to store important data on client device which can be easily synchronized back to the server whenever required. This ensures continued functioning of your app even when the user is not online.

• Excellent Connectivity
HTML5 greatly speeds up the real time chats and gaming applications ensuring better communication. With HTML5, video conferencing can run directly in the browser without any need of plug-ins.

• Support for integration of video and audio
With HTML5, it is possible to integrate audio and video into the browser without the need of Flash or Silverlight. Previously, it was not possible to embed videos into the web pages directly. Due to this, businesses developed their own video players, which, though functioned smoothly, but downloading external plug-ins for the same was quite irritating. But now, thanks to HTML5, the process is simplified.

• Ability to embed special effects and 3D graphics
With HTML5’s new tags like canvas, developers can now produce amazing visual effects, which were only possible with Flash or CSS initially. May be it’s time to say “Bye Forever” to Flash now. Also, there are other features like 2D Canvas and WebGL that HTML5 a better choice.

• Develop high performance applications
HTML5 enables developers to make fast and robust applications. The JavaScript running in the background does not affect the webpage performance and you can do a lot more functions such as clicking and selecting, in parallel.

With a majority of developers shifting to HTML5 for their projects and native mobile developers wishing to lessen the use of native technology, HTML5 is sure to become the most preferred platform of choice for development in the coming future.

Also, from the above discussion, it can be easily inferred that HTML5 has a great scope and soon, a web application will be able to work on almost all mobile platforms, and it will work on any HTML 5-compliant web browser, regardless of whether it is deployable on a mobile device or a desktop.

User experience design (UXD or UED) is a process of amplifying customer satisfaction and retention by enhancing the usefulness, ease of use, and joy provided in the interaction between the customer and the end product. User experience includes every aspect of a person’s interaction with the product, including the user interface, graphics and hardware design.


Elements of User Experience Design  

• Visual Design: This element deals with the appearance or look-and-feel of the user interface. The aim of visual design is to use elements like images, graphics and symbols in a way that it conveys a given message to the audience in the most appealing manner. In short, Visual Design enhances the look and information conveying capability of visual data.

• Interface Design: As in the traditional Human Computer Interaction, an effective interface was designed to facilitate communication of the user with the hardware (or functionality), interface design involves creating and designing interface elements to provide a friendly user-interface.

• Information Design: It involves designing information to facilitate easy and better understanding.

• Interaction Design: It involves designing the interactive systems to optimize their behavior and usability. It plays a crucial role in providing a better end user experience. Interaction designers take care of several things while working, like defining suitable interaction patterns, including user needs in the design, maintaining uniformity, etc.

• Navigation Design: It involves designing of interface elements to facilitate smooth navigation throughout the product or application.

• Functional Specifications: It involves creating a set of features the product must include in order to meet the user requirements.
• Information Architecture: It involves creating, organizing and maintaining information to facilitate easy access to content.

• Content Requirements: It involves defining required content elements to meet user requirements.

Software and tools for UX designers

Most of the UX designers prefer inexpensive and browser-based tools. Here is a list of a few of them:

Wireframing and prototyping tools:

• UX Pin: UX Pin is one of the most popular tools, providing a wide range of features, including fast and easy wireframing, solid prototyping and easy responsive designing.

• Wireframe.cc: It is a very simple wireframing tool best suited to develop mockups, concepts and layouts.

• Solidify App: With this wonderful tool, you can create and test prototypes, and get numerical facts about user behavior.

• Proto.io: It is a very useful tool for creating mobile prototypes. With the new version, you can even add your feedback.

• Other popular tools include InVision, P.O.P. App, Axure, Paper sketches, Flinto, Pidoco, Appery, Easel, Mockflow, OmniGraffle, HotGloo, Handcraft and the list is very long.

User research and testing tools:

• Wufoo: This tool automatically builds the database, backend and scripts when you create online forms for conducting surveys. This makes gathering and analyzing data quite simple and fast.

• TypeForm: This tool helps you create simple, stylish, responsive and user-friendly forms for online survey needs.

• Bagel Hint: This tool makes the process of comparing different UI versions with a pre-defined array of questions quite easy.

• Verify App: With this tool, one can upload his/her design quickly and perform testing. You can even check detailed reports after the test.

• Other tools include Usabilla, Morae, UX Recorder, Google Hangouts , PollDaddy, WebNotes, Concept Feedback, Frelay, Plunk, Intuition HQ, Delight.io, Camtasia etc.

Information Organization tools:

• Lucid Chart: Allows you to draw a variety of effective visual elements like flow charts, UML diagrams, and ER models.

• MindMeister: Allows you to organize information in maps that connect content, images and links.

• Other tools include Coggle.it, Optimal Sort, WebSort, Xsort, Gliffy, Google Drawings, Xmind, Mindjet and many more.

Analytics and Metrics tools:

There are numerous analytics and metrics tools available in the market like Crazy Egg , Good Data, KISSmetrics, Tableau, Maxymiser, App Annie, Click Density, Flurry, Woopra, Piwik, Clicky, etc.

Providing an enhanced user experience is crucial to the success of any product. UX design clearly provides a way to achieve this success with a planned and strategic approach. If the designer takes care of all the elements of user experience design and use appropriate software and tools, he/she can provide a better end user experience and thus, better business.