#proto.io

Proto.io Adds VR Prototyping Tools

Proto.io has added a VR component library to allow for prototyping VR experiences. One of the components includes a gaze interaction target that triggers a different state.

“You can set a particular area of your VR scene as interactive and make it respond to Gaze Click, Gaze Enter, and Gaze Leave. This area is invisible when previewed, so you can place it over objects that may be part of your scene. Opacity, visibility, and rotation cannot be changed.”

You don’t need a Lamborghini when a Flintstone’s car would suffice.

I started doing some research for this week’s site map submission and figuring out which software to go with is a mini-assignment in itself. The last site map I submitted, for Information Architecture, was done in Google draw, based on my group work and peer suggestion. It was easy to use, no worry of trial expiration or exporting the project fees. Like using the trial of Proto.io instead of relying on my pre-existing experience of InVision, I will most likely experiment with another software that I don’t have a lot of practice in just to get my feet wet.

This go around for site-mapping, the following software were suggested:

Omnigraffle (14-day trial free)

Axure (30-days free for teacher/students)

browser-based UX tool such as Mural.co (30-days free)

Keynote or PowerPoint (have unlimited)

Adobe Illustrator (have unlimited)

Keynote or PowerPoint as well as Illustrator, I have unlimited access and experience in. So there isn’t much challenge or learning there, so I will most likely pass. But software is really about finding the right tool for the right job, sometimes a software that can do too much for the task, is a bit overboard and gives unnecessary functionality. Mural is amazing and so cool. I may just try it in general because it applies to user experience design overall. It has moveable sticky notes, whats not to love? BUT…it seems this software of the collaborative future might be ideal for grander projects.

So that leaves Axure, as I previously used Omnigraffle with less than stellar results and some wonkiness for an Information Technology project. I went to establish a free student account but there was an error so I have contacted the company and they will review my student credentials. I would like to stretch my skills and get more software under my belt to have familiarity, but I will let you know how that goes, when I’m actually in the thick of things, because I may just end up circling back to Google draw, when I’m actually producing my deliverable.

Android app development tools

Hi Devs, in this post I am going to jot down list of Android tools needed for faster Android app development. You guys can live without these Android app development tools but with the use of these tools you all can develop your apps faster, improve and able to personalise your apps as per user’s need and many more other benefits will come in front of you after start of using.

Android app…

Sketch

Sketch is like Photoshop, only leaner. This means that the learning curve is much shorter, and you can easily start designing and exporting mockups in no time. One of the great features of Sketch is that you can export designs that are optimized for all platforms at once, which means you don't have to build out multiple versions of each of your objects for various devices (iOS, desktop, etc.) - creating responsive designs has never been easier. Did we mention its super affordable? With a $99 price tag, this piece of software is a must have for all app designers.

Keynotopia 

So you have a great app idea but your software chops are a bit lacking? Keynotopia is perfect for you then. By purchasing the Prototyping Bundle for either PowerPoint of Keynote (currently, only $97 dollars!), you get access to a litany of pixel perfect, vector objects that you can use to prototype pretty much any app concept. What's great, is that Keynotopia comes with objects custom made for any device you can think of (yes, there's even Blackberry UI templates included), so all of the spec work is done for you. Use it in Keynote or PowerPoint and let your creativity flow.

Balsamiq

Balsamiq is similar in concept to Keynotopia, as it provides a drag and drop solution to easily build and design mockups for any of your app ideas. What's great about Balsamiq, is the product was designed with quick app-making in mind, so there are pre-made menus that hold all of the objects you will need for your designs. This makes the wireframing process quick and easy. In short, with Balsamiq, you can go from prototyping to rapid prototyping. 

Invision

Invision is used by some of the heavy hitters in the app design world - Twitter, Evernote, Salesforce - to name a few. And they're definitely using it for a reason. If you are working in a bigger team with a lot of cooks in the design kitchen, than this piece of software will prove to be incredibly useful. With real-time design presentation and collaboration tools as well as version control for your designs, Invision makes it easy to design together.

Proto.io

If you are comfortable making static designs but want to make them more interactive, than Proto.io is perfect for your needs. This app makes it incredibly simple for you to animate your designs. But taking it one step further, Proto.io lets you preview your prototypes on actual devices (Android and iOS) without having to install anything. Now there's no excuse for you to not build your dream app. 

プロトタイピングする時に使うツールは、簡単な遷移を確認するときはPOP。作りこむときはProto.ioと使い分けています。 ということで、Proto.ioでつくる簡単なUIをまとめてみました。

ボタンをつくる。

まずは基本中の基本、ボタンを作ってみます。 ボタンをタップしてホールドしている間は、ボタンが拡大します。 離すと元のサイズにもどるようにします。

ボタンをタップして別のオブジェクトを操作する。

先ほどのボタンは、押されたボタン自身を操作していましたが、次は別のオブジェクト操作するものを作ってみます。

スクロール

オブジェクトをスクロールするようにしてみます。 オブジェクトをcontainerに変換するのがポイントです。

スクロール時にナビゲーションバーを隠す

スクロールしている間はナビゲーションバーを隠すUIをつくってみます。 スクロールをやめるとナビゲーションバーを表示させます。 ナビゲーションバーを隠すトリガーをスクロールさせるオブジェクトに設定することがポイントです。

今回は以上です。 画面遷移だけのプロトタイピングに飽きた方はProto.io試してみてはいかがでしょうか。

There are many prototyping methods out there that allow a designer to create working models, this model was created in one of the better options, Proto.io. This software is online and free to use for a limited time or if you start falling in love, sign up for their different packages and continue creating!! One of the best parts about this software is the ability to send a working file over to your device to see how it will look and run.

All the above work took a few weeks, from learning how to animate and get the links working in the software to capturing the photographs for the app itself. The front screen was the most challenging, from the studio lighting to the 100’s of shots taken and mess that had to be cleaned up afterwards!

Proto.io

After searching for the most suitable prototyping tool, one that can

play sound

play animation

play both 1 & 2 at the same time

(this is bonus) record sounds while the animation is playing.

I've narrowed it down to 2, Proto.io & Quartz Composer.

Proto.io

It's easy to use. And they come with a large library with various styles of the standard UI elements. Doesn't take me that long to complete a prototype, it supports the complete iPhone gestures capability. But the bottom-line is if you are designing something that departs from the native UI behaviors & elements (eg. Path, Clear), it isn't the best tool. 

Origami Quartz Composer