Despite how much technology has changed and advanced, at the same time, not much has fundamentally changed for designers. New tools, software, services, hardware, infrastructure, connectivity and speed evolves. However, the impact on everyday users does not always keep up with technology.
- James Kwong, Head of Product
How come? James pointed out that some of the biggest changes in technology revolve around the types of devices that we interact with daily. Cars now have embedded sensors, screens, and microphones. TVs have smart remotes and are at the center of home automation. VR headsets and hand controllers allow us to interact in virtual spaces. This shift means the interaction between humans, devices, and software evolves.
Let’s bring this to life: a drone provider, Flyability, inspects infrastructure assets with new equipment, an Elios 3 indoor drone. Our engineers make sure that Autofly (our GCS app that enables live streaming and control) can be used to conduct an indoor inspection of a silo.
Since the software compatibility with new aircraft is ensured, drone providers can successfully complete their workflow. The imagery gathered by the drone is synced to their Unleash live account, and the pilot can quickly analyze it with an AI app. The last step is to generate a digital report with the option to export it as a PDF and share it with stakeholders and clients.
Behind the scenes, each step of that process has been parsed out by designers and looked at in minuscule detail. This created an understanding of needs and requirements and designs that answer them. All ideas were tested, confirming which designs respond best to users' needs for development.
Accessibility
Looking into how our customers use the product is one of the most important elements to consider, but it’s not the only one. As James emphasizes:
We're also designing for accessibility. That means we must leverage color, icon, text and information hierarchy to make sure that we overcome language and barriers to improve comprehension and understanding.
- James Kwong, Chief Product Officer
These elements are baked into the AA-level design standards our Product team adheres to in Fission, our design system co-developed by James and Jean-Francois Di Paolo, a Product Designer at Unleash live.
Accessibility includes adapting to shifts in hardware, too, like screen sizes. Designers used to work with the lowest common denominator, making sure products work using small screens for people in the field. But with changes in tech, our focus must shift.
Not only do we need to consider how to carry out key workflows in the field on mobile and tablet, we must also account for expert users working in-office, with 4K, multi-monitor setups. How we design responsively and make the most of screen real estate is crucial for our customers, considering the higher information density common in niche, information-rich industry applications.
We're now much better at designing for multi-touch devices. Technology has allowed us to do multiple inputs at once on a digital screen, which opens up the world for what we as designers can do as well.
- James Kwong, Chief Product Officer
The team at Unleash live has created Autofly with drone pilots and touch screens in mind, where a tablet controls live streaming and mission execution. The experience mimics existing drone flight applications and is highly familiar to pilots. It’s different from its desktop companion, which focuses on quick access to key controls, larger maps, and live stream views.
Adaptability
At Unleash live, following the needs of our users means following changing technological requirements and adjusting our understanding. The ultimate goal is always ease of use and creating the best experience. To do that, we focus on the people who use the software and start with their needs front and center. Thinking about new technologies' impact on our users allows us to prioritize and stay relevant.
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