Important Considerations For Designing a Brilliant Mobile UX Design

 

According to a recent survey conducted by comScore, “the mobile Internet usage has skyrocketed in the last four years to overtake Desktop as the most used digital platform”. Taking a cue from this statistic suggests that: the online marketplace will be soon dominated by mobile devices. Thus, leveraging mobile solutions can help you expand your reach to a larger audience base.

You may be wondering by now, which mobile properties you should develop to accomplish your goal? Considering the fact that consumers spend 90% of time in mobile applications, you can expect to reach out to your target audience by developing a mobile app. In fact, many businesses and online marketers have already created an app, and their focus lies in expanding the presence of their app.

However, there is one big issue that many app creators seem to neglect when designing an app. The problem is that in a hurry to make the app available for public use, designers overlook paying attention to good UX practices. As a result, such app creators end up getting unfavorable results despite of the efforts they have put into building a great app model.

But, remember that UX (user experience) design is the key to creating a successful app. And so, it is very important that you're making every possible effort to create an excellent mobile UX design – since the success of the app depends on it. After all, you're building an app to be used by your audience, and they might not use your product again if they don't like what you have to offer.

To help you deliver a better and amazing experience to your mobile users, let's take a look at some of the key considerations to take into account when designing an app:

Focus on Clarity

While you need to display a prominent navigation menu at the top of your desktop application, the same can't be said for the mobile apps. Besides, you should avoid using multi-level menus with sub-menus. This is because displaying a lot of information in the form of menu in your mobile application will eats up plenty of screen space, which can ruin your design owing to limited screen space, and can jeopardize the clarity of the application.

Put it simply, users won't be able to use the app properly while on the move, if the majority of your app screen is covered by menu items. For instance, in case you've created an e-commerce app, then make sure that it renders a smooth navigation experience for users when checking out, as it will reduce the chances of cart abandonment.

Suggestion: You can resolve the above discussed issues, by designing the navigation using a concept that users are already familiar with, such as using an “icon” on your mobile screen that expands and contracts when it is being clicked by some user.

Besides, try avoiding the use of multi-level menus and focus on displaying the important message you want to convey to your users. In order to convey your message clearly to your app users, make sure that the “copy matches your visual design”.

For example: TRUSTe mobile privacy app provides users with a clear to understand framework that presents the correct view of privacy implications to users.

Create an Excellent Onboarding Design

Of course, people using your app for the first time might face difficulty in understanding where they should begin to use your app. Needless to say that users won't take much time to exit from your app, if they are unable to understand its use. Thankfully, onboarding screens (also called as walkthroughs) can help guide your users the accurate way to use your mobile app.

However, there have been a lot of discussion regarding how worthy onboarding screens prove in a mobile application. Max Rudberg provides a strong argument against the use of onboarding, according to which, if an app really requires a walkthrough, then it means it is faulty and lacks user-friendliness and simplicity. While the logic is somewhat correct, but it's not enough to come to a proper conclusion. Moreover, considering that most of the apps are unique and people today don't have the patience to understand all the technicalities of an app, providing them an onboarding flow will prove quite useful for the users.

Suggestion: Keep in mind that some people don't like to be taught. And so, it is important that your onboarding design must be simple and should excite (and encourage) users to go through what it says. Avoid adding too much written material, as it can frustrate users. Rather, focus on explaining the basic functionalities of your app with visual notes.

For example: The Evernote Food app features an excellent onboarding design that tells users what they'll gain from the app.

Keep Your Forms Short and Precise

This is the most obvious yet overlooked aspect of an application. Not to mention, you might not enjoy a good typing experience on small touch screen displays. But, having a form with too many fields can put off your users, as typing using virtual keyboard can be strenuous and challenging for the users. Therefore, it is important that the forms added in your app must be simple and small.

Even if you need to use a long form, you can keep the less relevant fields pre-filled with defaults. Also, you can make use of visual calendars rather than making an app user type the date.

Suggestion: In case your forms are large in size and exceeds a single screen, it is recommended that you must show your users a progress bar to tell them where they exactly are (when in the middle of filling a form). Most importantly, let them know how close they're to completing the form.

For example: The Habitat for Humanity Mobile app contact form contains some auto-filled fields by default and only asks users to fill in the most relevant details. 

Final Words

As mobile platforms and technologies are becoming more mature, it becomes needful for designers to create mobile apps that renders good UX (user experience) to stand apart from the competition. But, do keep in mind to develop an app that meets your target audience needs. For this, it's important to identify who your users are. Once you've identified the users, consider the above discussed considerations to deliver an enhanced user experience. After all, your app can only succeed if it is able to provide a good and satisfying experience to users.

Author Bio: Arya Stark is a mobile app developer working for an Offshore Enterprise Mobile App Development Company, Xicom which offers a quality enterprise mobility services. So if you are looking to avail the best mobility services, you can get in touch with her.

Why SMAC is the hot cake for businesses? The next big thing!

SMAC aka Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud is a perfect nexus of four innovative technologies that are helming business innovation. So is SMAC turning out to be a perfect Pick-me-up for growing businesses? Let’s find out.

SMAC creates a perfect ecosystem facilitating businesses to boost its operations and reach/understand customers without heavy investing, which is undoubtedly a boon to SMEs. The explosion of unstructured and structured data created through cellular devices, social media and website browising is proving to be of great use these days.    

SMEs are anticipated to play  a significant role in adopting SMAC technology. Moreover, with SMAC opening up new avenues for SMEs at warp speed, it would be interesting to see how these businesses fare in this game. Besides helping boost operational efficiency, SMAC also helps enhance customer experience to a great extent.

 What makes SMAC a perfect pick-me-up?

Customers posting queries on social medial handles of organizations and receiving real-time responses/resolutions to their questions is one of the excellent examples of how SMAC can work wonders for a business in effective marketing and customer retention, satisfaction and service.

Since social networks utilize cloud platform for data storage and users these days prefer mobiles for connecting to these networks thus, a sound analytics here helps businesses in understanding as what, when and how users are steered towards a particular service or product.      

Netflix is another great example of SMAC analytics done the right way. For instance, when a Netflix user streams a TV serial from Netflix’s cloud on his iPad, he gets the option to sign into Netflix via Facebook login. After watching the serial, the user is now asked to provide his feedback. He can post reviews, rate the serial or can simply opt to share an update about the recently viewed TV serial on his Facebook.

Here comes the punch! All the data is stored on cloud thereby, allowing Netflix to breakdown and analyse the data to such a granular level in order to give out preference-based or personalized recommendations to each user of the site.

For businesses operating in the BFSI and retail sectors, SMAC can help foster a perfect ecosystem allowing them to conduct business in a much better manner and collect relevant insights for streamlining critical business operations and eventually helping to sow seeds for a stronger relationship with their customers.

In addition, adopting SMAC technology would greatly help businesses operating in the BFSI sector to garner qualified leads by using cost-efficient mediums and mapping lifecycles of customers in a better way as well as will help in identifying areas that require timely attention.    

Today, technological advancement in SMAC has reached its peak and thus, there is a downpour of cutting-edge, customizable, and affordable SMAC solutions for business of any size operating in any industry. Therefore, SMEs too can leverage the power of SMAC without bombing their budgets to stay ahead of their competitors.     

It is the need of hour for SMEs to take the centre-seat in adopting SMAC technology and making it the crux of their business planning. A business that understands the potent of SMAC and harnesses it across critical business operations is sure to lead this new tide of growth.

The Rapidly Growing Animation Jobs in India

The animated movies business in India is in its early stages and offers a ton of extension for profession development. There is a critical interest for exceedingly talented and prepared workforce that unions specialized and imaginative capacities.

The universe of animation is a world where reality meets creative energy, where dinosaurs stroll crosswise over silver screens, and where amazing sites welcome the digital voyager and go up against him a voyage of disclosure. Animation is the specialty of catching a progression of individual developments, whether on film or in advanced structure and replaying them in fast progression to give the deception of development. It can be accomplished utilizing pictures drawn on a paper or other medium, with mud figures or papers manikins or utilizing PC created pictures.

Worldwide standpoint and Animation jobs and how fresher can apply

The utilization of computerized innovation to create visual impacts for peculiarity movies is at an untouched high. Today, for all intents and purposes each Hollywood film utilizes advanced impacts in one structure or the other. In 1989 pretty nearly 600 artists in the business made a full-time living in computerized film impacts and the business spent not exactly $100 million for the improvement of impacts, on under 30 shots. Anyhow today more than 100,000 artists make a full-time living making computerized film impacts and the business spends more than $2 billion for the advancement of impacts, with the normal number of shots more than 300 every film.

The growth of the Indian animation industry

Aside from the nearby market, India is quick developing as an imperative destination for outsourcing assignments from the worldwide studios, for example, Walt Disney Pictures and Cartoon Network. India is progressively displaying itself as a positive destination for the animation business, especially in after creation and 3D substance improvement action. This surge sought after has prodded critical development in the visual impacts industry and has made lucrative occupations for several computerized specialists and other specialized authorities. There is additionally potential for the nation to turn into a worldwide animation center. Animation as a guaranteeing business suggestion is a similarly late field of genuine enthusiasm for India. India has seen no less than 75 expansive animations after creation studios heading up in less than five years.

Indian animation studios are currently walking ahead in the coliseum of making unique items and securing their own licensed innovation rights. Around there India has a few favorable circumstances over China as well as whatever remains of the world with its rich history and society of narrating alongside amazing masterful ability. In India another movement upset is in progress with Generation Next being presented to world-class animation from TV stations, for example, Animex, Pogo, Disney channel, Cartoon network etc. This is likewise making a residential business for Indian movement items.

How do illustrators work?

Illustrators make successions of movie that recount a story or impart a message. Customary artists draw each one picture separately on paper, which are then exchanged onto film and when played back quickly (around 25 edges every second) provide for us the impact of movement. Notwithstanding, nowadays with the appearance of capable PCs and programming, for example, 3D Studio Max, Alias, and so forth about all animation work is being carried out on PC. PC artists depend less on conventional visual depiction skill and all the more on capability on utilizing the animation programming.

Almost all illustrators are a piece of a group and have a particular territory of specialization. Some of these zones incorporate, character activity, three-dimensional movement and so on. A few illustrators take a shot at individual characters, scenes or groupings; others may chip away at collecting these together to structure the complete picture. All work done by artists needs to affirm to the script and details set around the chief.

Professional scope

There are plenty of animation jobs which even fresher’s can also apply. Numerous opportunities are given by businesses.  The different vocation opportunities - from innovation based employments, for example, examining, compositing, computerized ink and paint, and amusement are planning to innovative gentlemen jobs like visual-impacts managers, 3D modelers and character artists.

The majority of the animation employments are in the field of promoting which oblige short animation cuts. Illustrators work in film and TV studios, promoting and programming generation organizations where they may be making diversions and instructive programming.

Author bio

The writer of this article, Kamlesh is an animator who has not just seen the changes that have come about in the field however he has also worked with some of the best names in the market and has provided his services and experience.

SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Examination (SRMJEEE 2015) – An Overview

SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Examination is the engineering entrance exam conducted by SRM University Tamil Nadu; the following post takes quick look at SRMJEEE 2015.

Introduction

SRM Engineering Entrance Examination (SRMJEEE 2015) is the entrance examination for B. Tech courses offered by SRM Group Universities for enrolment to every University of their group. There are several universities under this group.

Eligibility Criteria for SRMJEEE 2015

There are the following standards that will be followed for the eligibility of the candidates:-

The entrance test is for candidates having Indian Nationality. Have to be studied in schools in India in the preceding two years. Must have studied and completed the qualifying examination from educational institutes in India. Students must pass Class XII (10+2) with an aggregate of 70% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (for biotechnology, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering and genetic engineering the 70% aggregate in Physics, Chemistry and Biology is required). Candidates opting for biotechnology, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering and genetic engineering will have to give entrance examination on Physics, Chemistry and Biology papers whereas students opting for any other courses will have Mathematics instead of Biology.

Important Considerations

Candidates applying for the SRMJEEE 2015 must ascertain themselves about their eligibility for the same.

The applicant must be able to show the necessary eligibility documents within the stipulated time period. Failure to submit original documents will make the candidate ineligible and cancellation of their candidature.

Admission and Application Process for SRMJEEE 2015

Admission to the SRM Group Universities will be made totally on the basis of the candidate’s performance in the entrance examination. The short listed students based on their performances in SRMJEEE 2015 will be called for counselling to be taken place in SRM University.

There are two modes of application procedure available, the online mode and the offline mode. The candidate willing to apply must use any one of the available mode. Applying using both the mode is not allowed.

In online mode the candidate has to fill the online form using the unique voucher code generated during the application process.

In offline mode the form can be downloaded and filled and then send to the university by any suitable means.

Exam Pattern

The entrance examination can also be given either using paper-pencil method or through online mode. SRMJEEE can only be given in English language. There will be only objective type questions (multiple choice with four options). There are 35 questions each for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (105 marks for each subject). Biology paper consists of 50 questions carrying 105 marks. There is negative marking for each wrong answer. The value of negative marking in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics is 1 whereas that for Biology is 0.7. The entrance examination carries a total of 315 marks. For both online and offline mode of examination the candidate is allowed to carry only pen/pencil and Hall Ticket (to be downloaded from the website after successful application) inside the examination centre.

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Payment of Application Fees

The application fees can be given by following the below-mentioned steps

·         Candidates can register and pay through online methods or using the unique prepaid voucher code at the time of application at the University website.

·         Application fees can also be given using Demand Draft drawn in favour of SRMIST, payable at Chennai. This must reach the University before the deadline as the application will only be considered after receiving the application fee.

·         The application fee for SRMJEEE 2015 is Rs. 900/-

·         The candidate can obtain the application form via offline mode from any SRM Group Universities upon giving the Rs. 900/- as the fee for application.

Important dates for SRMJEEE 2015

·         No application form will be received after March 15^th 2015 and no consideration will be made for applications reaching thereafter.

·         The SRM Group Universities advised the candidates to keep a photocopy of the application form.

·         The paper-pencil entrance examination will take place on April 26^th 2015.

·         The online mode of entrance examination will be held from April 19^th to 22^nd 2015.

SRMJEEE is one of the most popular engineering entrance examinations to be conducted in south India. Make sure that you are extremely well prepared; exams are knocking at the door, so pull up your socks and put your best foot forward. 

Hiring a Commercial Structural Engineer for Fortifying Foundations

The foundation of a construction is always the most important part. Next, there must be a very good blueprint of the development. While setting up any structure, a few important things should be kept in mind. It is good to remember that there is no margin of effort in construction. Whatever you set, you do it in brick and mortar. It is set in concrete, and changing it again is impossible once the whole thing is done.

You can make structural modifications wherever possible, but for changing all of it, you have no other option to break down the entire thing and rebuild. Such drastic steps are only rarely taken. Hiring a competent commercial structural engineer will ensure that no such possibility even arises! The work is done perfectly right from the point of laying the first foundation brick.

Using advanced modeling software

Typically, one or another CAD system is used for making construction blueprints. However, a good commercial structural engineer will use the BIM or the Business Information Modeling System. This highly efficient digital modeling protocol can create an exact simulation of the construction, in real time, as it progresses. This incremental approach is also based on the projected understanding of the final design.

Furthermore, the BIM approach also integrates the inputs of both the architect and the engineer. There is no clash between planning and execution. In fact, the feedbacks from the supplier, homeowner, and the contractor are also incorporated for full-fledged perfection. The requirement of materials can be calculated easily as well. BIM is an advanced system that actually helps to keep the costs to an optimum, and not in the excess. Everything is made accurate and perfect.  If you are commencing on a new construction project, do consult with an efficient service handling projects on BIM.

Fortifying existing constructions

Buildings may have weak points vulnerable to the stress of natural disasters. For example, in a hurricane prone area, the roofs must have strong riveting mechanisms to keep it on top. They must not be blown away, so to say. Several things should be considered here. The commercial engineer will set an inspection appointment first. He will note down the areas that need extra fortification. A lot of details should be considered. Water must not be accumulating and freezing in the drains. There should be good draining and cleaning mechanisms.

The basement may need an additional pillar support. Some apartments actually take a lot of risk when the basement car park only has a few pillars. A slight earthquake can get the thing in shambles. However, the commercial structural engineer will implement all of the additional fortification. Another key vulnerability is in leaving a lot of open space on the basement walls. These are actually risky because they cannot sustain the lateral stress of earthquakes very well. The engineer will earmark the areas needing improvement and close in all the loopholes in the basement. Hiring the expert guarantees peace of mind. You will be feeling safe when the expert engineer is at work.

CAT-2014 might offer a sigh of relief but cut offs for B-Schools could go up!

If there’s something that you would really want to know about the upcoming CAT-2014 examinations then it is none other than but the sea changes that have been confirmed about the myriad fronts. Rest assure- there’s no change in syllabus or the content, which means you can carry on your preparations with the same swing but a lot of changes surely went noticeable this time. Now the question that hits the box right on the first go is that how fair it would be for the aspirants to score good percentiles. And also it airs the question about the minimum cut off percentile for the top B-Schools in nation. Surprisingly the changes that have been incorporated are not a trivial one’s but it seems that they have altogether set a brand new scale for evaluations.

Changes are sometimes daunting but sometimes they are equally rewarding too. Like if you talk about the latest changes that have been called in the Common Admission Test then it can be clearly seen that the duration of examination has been outstretched from one hundred forty minutes to one hundred seventy minutes. Now this is surely a cherry on the cake and we shall discuss the same in brief now in order to understand what exactly these changes means to an aspirant.

Unfolded time gap means time management goes easy!

People called it a clever call by CAT when the time duration was revised followed by increased number of questions. Now that you have 30 minutes extra with you- the time allowed per question was automatically axed down from 2.3 minutes to 1.7 minutes. However, this could open more possibility and all that matters is speed, undoubtedly. So surely, striking out maximum number of questions in 170 minutes won’t be a child’s play.

High pressure mounting up every second!

With extra 30 minutes of time for examinations, longer duration will certainly call for a little bit of more practice. Mock tests series have really been proved beneficial in this very regard but one has to be really specific about the appropriate timing and closing a particular question in a given time frame. Certainly, one cannot master the art without even being pushed through some practices. Thus, your first hand encounter with the mock sessions will keep you mentally ready for all the upcoming.

Limited sessions to ensure quick wind up!

Earlier where the CAT was supposed to take place in 40 sessions, the CAT-2014 examination has curbed the same in just 4 sessions stretching over 2 days only. There have been a lot of say in this very regard but if you are really serious about belling the CAT then this year might hold something really good for you.

CAT 2013 Examinations:

Total time allotted: 140 minutes.

Number of questions in each section: 30 each in 2 sections.

CAT 2014 Examinations what’s new

Total time allotted: 170 minutes.

Number of questions in each section: 50 each in 2 sections.

Less time per question, which might probably mean a slight reduction in the level of toughness.

So, a new tweak in the CAT-2014 Examinations seems to be pretty promising and one can surely score a decent percentile with sincere and uncompromised efforts over the time. Nonetheless, it was a dual sided blade that was thrown openly in the air when IIMs allowed a switch between the sections. However, you have to have a razor sharp decision making ability in order to hit the right chord at just the right point of time. And also try to avoid wasting time on one section and killing time when you have an option of opting for comparatively easier questions in other sections. It’s a fair deal and with consistent efforts- who knows that you’re next in the IIMs shortlisted candidates list.

 Author Bio: Shadman Alvi is professional writer. Blogging and writing for myriad of social media platform is what excites him. He believes that newness and novelty are the two driving force that can make anything black and white- colorful. He enjoys experimenting with various techniques and implementing the same on print and web alike. If you like his work, feel free to catch him on LinkedIn.

What and When of MBA Exams in India

What and When of MBA Exams in India

           MBA is a Master’s degree in Business Administration, the growing demand of the economy to go global is calling for the need of more people having the knowledge in managing a business which only an MBA degree can provide them. Let’s see what all exams you need to take to get into a good MBA college, how you need to prepare for them and the eligibility criteria etc.

           After you have done your graduation, irrespective of what field you chose, whether you are an engineer, IT graduate etc. you will be ultimately either be working for someone or will start a company of your own. In either case, you will be supposed to manage a business or functionality. The knowledge required for running and/or administering a business comes from studying the tidbits of management, thus MBA.

To have an MBA degree has become the need of the hour, with almost all companies asking for a degree in Business Administration. For those who are not looking for a job use the MBA degree to start some venture of their own or advice someone how to go about their business as a freelance advisor.

MBA or No MBA: The crucial decision

With so many MBA colleges opening in every nook and corner of the country, the value of the degree has considerably lowered. However, the theoretical and practical knowledge that comes with getting the degree from a good MBA college in India cannot be ignored in disdain. If not a guaranteed job, an MBA degree will at least land you with the immense knowledge of handling business and the workforce. It can be argued that the knowledge you receive from an MBA degree can be received from working in a company, however the time you will need to grasp the functionalities will be faster when you have studied them in detail well in advance.

MBA Exams in India

Now that you have decided to join the majority of India’s postgraduates opting for doing MBA, you will have to prepare for the entrance exams to get selected in the MBA College of your choice in the future.

The eligibility criteria

The criteria of almost all MBA exams in India are a minimum of 50% in graduation, a graduate degree or the applicant can be a final year graduate. The minimum educational qualification of someone who is eligible to take the MBA exam is 10 + 2 + 3/ 4 years of school plus college.

The List of exams

There are a number of MBA exams that you can apply for in order to get enrolled into an MBA college of your choice. The list of the most famous exam along with the date of enrollment is given below:

              Some of the exams have already closed their registration dates for the year 2014; however there are a few left which are still accepting the call for application. It’s time to make sure that you apply for such exams on time; else you will have to wait for the year 2015 to start with the registration process and that will cause a year break.

Other exams that you can take to be eligible for a seat in MBA are:

·        SNAP: Symbiosis National Aptitude Test

·        TAPMI: T A Pai Management Institute Admissions Test

·        IBSAT: ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test

·        ATMA: AIMS Test for Management Admissions

·        MHCET: Maharashtra Common Entrance Test

·        MICAT: Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad Admission Test

·        IBSAT: ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test

·        TISS: Tata Institute of Social Sciences

·        IRMA: Institute of Rural Management

Paper Structure

A typical MBA exam in India follows a similar structure of 4 – 5 sections. In order to be eligible for getting admission in MBA, you are supposed to pass all the sections. The time of exam and amount of negative marking may vary from exam to exam.

The sections that are normally there in all the MBA exams are:

1.     English Comprehension

2.     Data Interpretation

3.     Logical Reasoning/ Analysis

4.     Quantitative Aptitude

5.     General Knowledge

The ranking which is given to every section may vary from exams to exam. In order to pass an MBA exam in India, it is extremely important for you to practice at least previous 5 years question papers of the exam you are applying for, keep in mind the importance of time factor. The time you will be required to finish the paper with minimum negative answers is fixed.

The preparation time for MBA exam is very crucial in order to bag your dream college which will provide a good package placement. Thus it is very important for you to start at the earliest, keeping all factors related to the paper structure in mind. At this point, don’t waste your time thinking what field you would opt for, as you will get plenty of time in college to think the same.

 A professional writer and an avid reader, Tripti has been in the writing industry for 2 years now. Her work ranges from articles on education to property and employment. 

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