The Internet of Things (IoT) enables us to get beyond the screen and embrace the connection between physical and digital environments. As one of the most innovative and fastest growing industries in the world, IoT continues to influence how people interact with technology and the world around them. While IoT product development is concerned with both appliances and applications, the most successful implementations focus on the connection between hardware and software and how this affects the user experience. Consumer IoT products are at the forefront of User Experience (UX) design.
While the touchscreen moved us beyond the mouse and keyboard through the recognition of gesture, wearables and smart home devices are changing the very nature of the digital interface. The consumer IoT market is large and incredibly diverse, with products controlled by voice commands, touch gestures, and smart sensors, just to name a few. Despite these novel connections, mobile apps will continue to play an important role in how people control and interact with their favorite devices. Most IoT products rely on a user-friendly connection between a hardware device and a software application.
The most successful implementations focus on the connection between hardware and software and how this affects the user experience
The real-world value and success of an IoT product largely depend on whether this connection is clumsy or elegant. To provide meaningful and relevant user experiences, businesses and UX experts need to adjust their existing strategies to cope with the complexities of IoT systems. Successful interface design is not about designing an app but fulfilling a real-life application from multiple interactions and devices to diverse functionality and data streams. Businesses can do many things to enhance the user experience, from simple yet secure onboarding to seamless transitions and integration between devices and users. No one wants to waste time or energy with user authentication or adaptation, with a tight connection between the physical design and overall product functionality. IoT devices should be intuitive and meaningful. Their long-term viability needs to be based on a helpful yet passive style of engagement that makes life better. While IoT has tremendous potential to change the world, it will live or die according to whether or not it makes the world simpler and more transparent. By focusing on personalization, extendability, and putting the user experience at the forefront of every decision, businesses can ensure the success of their IoT products.
