iOSDev UK: Designing multi-user, single device interfaces on the iPad

Kate Ho, interface3, @kateho

• Started by designing for Microsoft Tablet
  • kids started saying “this would be really cool an iPad…”

Example multi-user apps

Multi-user (sharing a single device at the same time)

• Versus Games:
  • Examples: PaddleBattle, Dorfball(?), Table Twister, Touch of Fun
  • Very simple games: you’d think people would get bored, but people get very competitive
  • “You can only play for 30 seconds at a time without killing each other” — playing with 8 year-olds can be very bad
  • Best place to find inspiration for these games are the Wii mini games (Raving Rabbids, etc)
• Co-op Games:
  • Complete an objective together
  • from interface3: iHave (just released)
  • who has the maths answer?
  • collectively get as many points as possible
  • SliceHD — maybe not meant for multiplayer, but great for kids!
• Games with a twist:
  • one idea: two people playing on an iPad, and another player on a
• Creative
  • Singing Fingers — just watch the video!
  • haven’t seen any specifically collaborative drawing apps, but perhaps regular drawing apps are ok
• Exploration scenarios
  • Topsee — can have a look at something and pass it over to someone else
  • interface3 interactive mortgage guide on a Surface
  • multitouch is better than keyboard since you don’t have to ask permission from the other person — just reach in a grab
• Small group interactions
  • one person in charge and two to three people learning over the same device
  • interface3 built CoachAssist

Tips

• design without orientation
  • circular buttons with both-way-up text
  • rotate the text every now and then
  • draggable, rotatable objects
• try to avoid one player’s actions getting in the way of others
• design for short interactions
  • around an iPad people are sharing personal space
  • especially if they have to put their head over the screen
• make sure players aren’t kept waiting
• don’t have too many complex gestures
  • “gestures are like the 21st Century command line”
  • you shouldn’t spend too much time explaining yourself
• create shared experiences
  • what could two people do together that they couldn’t do by themselves