Post #2 – Web/Mobile App Critique

Web/Mobile App Critique - Apple's Home Application

• Apple’s Home app is an application that is used for controlling compatible smart devices. More internet of things (IoT) smart devices are entering the market and devices that are Apple HomeKit approved can be added to the Home app.  This allows the user the freedom to access multiple devices from multiple providers through a centralized application.  

  Usability

  The basic questions with usability are:

  What is the app going to be used for?

  Who is going to be using it?

  Will the user interface make sense to the user?

  Usability of the Home app is very straightforward for all devices that are connected.  It is very intuitive and easy to navigate because the screens are not cluttered with too many options.  

  
  Design

  The design is the user interface that creates an enjoyable user experience (UX).  UX is an important aspect of the success of an app.  The design should be self-explanatory and an easy to follow user tree.  The users should not have more than a few clicks to navigate to a desired screen.  The application developers need to design the application so that it is simple and easy to use.  

  The design of the Home app is very clean and simple.  On the home screen you see all of the devices that are connected, and you can simply tap the button to turn the device on and off.
  

  Functionality

  Functionality is the overall purpose of the application.  The main question is, what experience are you trying to provide the user?  Are all of the functions easily and quickly accessible? 

  The rule for UX functionality is to keep it simple.  Apple’s Home app keeps the functions simple.  You can turn on and off devices from the home screen and for additional functions you navigate to additional tabs easily located at the top of the screen. 

  Three recommendations for improvements

  Apple allows users to add family members so that apps are shareable.  Apple’s Home app is shareable but there is only one main user device and all other user devices that have access to the same Home set up must be added by the main device user.  Home’s automation and Scene’s can only be set up from the main device, unless the other members are given permission to make edits.   

   

• Because my boyfriend takes such delight in playing with new gadgets he set up our Home app on his device and I am only able to use the app but not customize it.  But, Apple does allow the main device Home owner to designate permissions to users that share the app.  One of my recommendations is that Apple should provide a default option to prompt the primary user to set user privileges when adding someone to the app. Another issue I sometimes face, as a Home user, is devices not responding when there is any sort of update or change to the primary device.  This is frustrating because I have no notifications as to why the device is not responding.  If there is a message to device users that state “update required” or “login required” or some message as to whatever the reason is that might be causing the device to be unresponsive.  The third recommendation I have is for improving automation, so it allows users to schedule devices like a calendar. For example, I would like to see options like a calendar – Weekdays, Weekends, Repeating, and date ranges, then display a listing of devices and have options to turn on, off & duration for each device.  Ideally, I could have a work mode automation or a vacation mode automation. Currently Apple Home does not offer this feature and it is cumbersome to set up automations for multiple devices.  I would personally like having the UI string device actions so it allows automation to create an easy to set up If This Then That (IFTTT) scenario. 

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