The Internet of Things (IoT) industry is seeing a major surge in connected devices. In fact, the sales were expected to reach well over 25 Billion dollars in 2020. Hence, homes, businesses, and corporations see a tremendous change in how connected devices are perceived in relation to IoT. But despite all the advancements surfacing, the IoT user interface (UI) is still developing.
Thus, many difficulties arise in creating the UI for the Internet of Things and implementing it into futuristic smart homes. Here are five reasons why designing UI for IoT is so difficult: –
Diversification of data handling and interfaces
IoT has to work across several devices and different interfaces, which vary in data handling, processing, and visualization. But regardless of the differences, the UI to be created at the end of the user needs to be simple yet effective to relay the data as required.
But the differences form a barrier in the easy creation of UI for all the devices scattered over the IoT. For example, a thermostat and a smart speaker in a connected home will have different modes of data collection, and even their individual UIs will differ. But when all these devices are connected to a single command relaying device, say a smartphone, the UI will need to be singular, too.
The difficulty also stretches over to how the UI is perceived by the users in a big institution such as an industry. As several devices such as vending machines, industrial equipment, etc., will be accessed by different individuals such as managers, technicians, workers, electricians, the UI should be created in a way that, despite its tremendous spread over IoT devices, it will be simple to use and integrate.
The UI and hardware developer drift
A common mistake or maybe a difficulty that is when developing the UI of IoT devices is the probable drift between UI and hardware developers. There are very few chances that UI developers familiarize themselves with the technical aspects of the build of smart devices or delve deep into all the possibilities achievable with smart device hardware.
Hence, hardware, one of the most influential aspects of connected devices, is all but ignored, thus limiting the ease which can be brought by the UI of IoT devices. For example, if the hardware used is not up to a considerable quality, but the UI created demands high energy, the device will face consequent issues of energy drainage. Similarly, if the best and most high-end hardware is used, but the UI is sluggish, the device’s true potential remains hidden and out of the users’ reach.
The extremely sophisticated user interface or software design is of no use if the foundation is not strong enough to facilitate a better User Interface.
Verification processes and procedures
Integrating IoT in a smart home requires the users to connect various devices to their smart home hub, and each of these devices involves verification procedures. These authentication processes can get tiresome and hectic. Hence, upon the introduction of new technical systems, it is difficult for the end-users to complete the verification process again and again to integrate smart devices.
Hence, one shortcoming of User Interface is the limitations of self-setting devices. If only machines such as thermostats, lightings, or geyser systems could set themselves up as per the preferences of the users, the UI could get a lot easier.
A simple verification process for IoT and integrated devices with limited steps yet utmost security is a major step towards simplifying the creation of UI.
Seamless connectivity and integration
A critical deal breaker in the employment of IoT is the difficulty of connecting devices and their integration with each other. IoT devices work the best with the devices of the same brand, which leaves limited space for third-party integrations leading to a significant erosion of user interface and experience.
Only if the IoT is built with technology to readily accept third-party integration or devices, the user interface and experience can grow a lot. The same goes for connection, latency, and lag issues. User Interface tends to get glitch-sty if the internet does not seem to work properly. Simple and lightweight user interface softwares can guarantee easier loading of applications and a better experience with the User Interface.
Customization of User Interface
Now that smart homes and offices are no longer a buzzword and more of reality, personalization and customization are more in demand than ever. A pre-set User interface by the manufacturing locale can only be of too much help until it falls short of the users’ expectations.
Setting up the devices from factory settings each time or looking for the best way to minimize time loss while interacting with smart devices is necessary today. Hence, the difficulty can eradicate by integrating the UI with options of smart setups, and learned behavior in smart devices can help the users save a lot of time.
For example, lighting fixtures can automatically set up to the most favored brightness level of the user. Ovens can set to mostly used temperatures, and thermostats can perceive the most setup temperature, too, or maybe even change as per the weather conditions.
Overcoming the difficulties
Employ Storyboard
Despite all the difficulties of UI creation and GUI, Crank Software’s Storyboard helps lessen the challenges in the design and integration of embedded GUI while also reducing the time and efforts taken to do so. It allows for seamless importing of content, adding animations for graphics, managing the alterations yet leaving the code as simple as possible, and of course, testing and validating the created prototypes.
Hence, it merges the distance between UI and hardware by testing what the end-user will experience.
Seamless communication channels
The difficulty of different views of UI and hardware designs can be eliminated by bridging the distance of these developers. Establishing communication channels will facilitate the full emerging of the potential of smart devices.
One-Step verification processes
Introducing simple verification from the smart hub itself instead of verifying every new device can save a lot of time and increase the overall User Interface and experiences.