Feature Discoverability Across Devices – How to bring hidden features to life and make the most of the device’s potential.
Project information
Cross-Device Ecosystems · Features · Scientific Work · Concept · UI/UX
Summer 2024
Master thesis under supervision of Prof. Dr. Frank Heidmann & Prof. Boris Müller
Why this topic?
We own more internet-connected devices than ever, with an average of 9.4 per person in Western Europe and 13.4 in North America. As the number of devices increases, so do cross-device features. However, many of these features remain undiscovered and unused due to poor visibility and accessibility. Even large providers, are not exempt from this issue. As a result, the full potential of these devices remains untapped.
This master’s thesis investigates strategies to enhance feature discoverability in cross-device contexts, focusing on two design experiments for the Universal Clipboard within Apple’s single-user ecosystem, specifically using iPhone and MacBook devices.
Core Hypothesis: Numerous cross-device features exist, but the majority of users are unaware of them.
Research Question: How can features in the context of cross-device usage be better discovered and understood?
Overview – Process of concept development
Through a review of existing research, a case study feature (Apples Universal Clipboard) is selected, and new visually accessible approaches are designed, tested, and evaluated.
Current State – Universal Clipboard (Excerpt)
This copying process on the iPhone and pasting process on the MacBook illustrate the Universal Clipboard in action. However, there is no indication of its existence.
Understanding – The Problems and why Features are hidden (Excerpt)
There are many reasons why features remain undiscovered: design language, the need to avoid overwhelming users, technical issues, limited research, unclear terminology, ... or simply being overlooked.
Factors Directly Impacting Discoverability – Reasons that directly influence feature discoverability, such as unclear design language, poor user guidance, or insufficient visibility of features.
Additional Challenges in Cross-Device Contexts – Factors that have the potential to further complicate discoverability due to cross-device setups include inconsistent interfaces, device compatibility issues, and a lack of unified communication between devices.
Networking of Home Devices – A visualization of all possible connections between home devices highlights where communication occurs. Each connection has the potential to introduce errors, which may prevent certain features from being accessible or functional.
Study Designs
This thesis conducted two experiments to enhance the discoverability and communication of the Universal Clipboard:
Experiment 1: focused on making the Universal Clipboard more discoverable between iPhone and MacBook through visual cues displayed directly on the devices during or before the copying process. Various approaches were evaluated to determine the most effective way to introduce and continuously communicate the feature without being intrusive.
First Device Configuration: Copying on the iPhone, pasting on the MacBook.
1.1 – Four different approaches for copying on the iPhone.
1.2 – Four different approaches for pasting on the MacBook.
Second Device Configuration: Copying on the MacBook, pasting on the iPhone to examine consistency and potential differences.
2.1 – Five different approaches for copying on the MacBook.
2.2 – Four different approaches for pasting on the iPhone.
Third Device Configuration: A one-time display of the feature’s functionality was tested, alongside a persistent display of indicators showing that cross-device features are generally possible.
3.1 – Three one-time display approaches for the iPhone.
3.2 – One-time display approach for the MacBook.
4.1 – Two persistent indicator approaches for the iPhone.
4.2 – Two persistent indicator approaches for the MacBook.
Experiment 2: This experiment explored the discoverability of the Universal Clipboard using a overview tool on the MacBook. The tool provided a detailed overview of all devices, their connections, synchronization states, and cross-device features within the user’s home network and ecosystem.
The app aimed to address connectivity issues as a barrier to feature discovery by making hidden connections, critical for cross-device features like the Universal Clipboard, visible. Test participants were given a clear understanding of active processes and relationships, highlighting the essential links that enable seamless device interaction.
1 – On the left, all devices associated with an Apple ID are listed, along with the features available for those devices. The central section provides an overview, while the right side displays all essential connections and additional details.
2 – Selecting the Universal Clipboard shows which devices it works with. In this case, the MacBook, iPhone, and router. A feature explanation is also provided.
3 – When the Universal Clipboard is active, the interface indicates its status. For example, something copied on the iPhone is now available on the MacBook.
4 – Tips are displayed, such as optimizing the Wi-Fi connection for both devices.
5 – Error messages with solution suggestions are presented when issues occur.
Outlook Design – Experiment 2, the overview tool, can be adapted for multi-user scenarios to provide a clear view of devices and features within an Apple Family setup.
Used Methods to get there:
Research – I delved into numerous scientific papers, lectures, and experiments to gain a comprehensive understanding of various topics and their interconnections.
Narrowing down – After the research phase, I narrowed my focus and selected the most interesting features and the most popular devices, based on data.
Understanding Functionality – As much of the communication occurs behind the scenes, I investigated the key connections that enable the Universal Clipboard. This analysis used the interactions between a MacBook, iPhone, and router as an illustrative example.
Bluetooth is essential as it confirms the proximity of devices to each other. While Wi-Fi is not mandatory, it significantly accelerates data transfer. Data is stored locally on the devices, while iCloud identifies devices belonging to the same user and ensures secure encryption.
Visual Board – In addition to scientific literature, Apple’s overall approach and visual communication strategies were analyzed. These insights informed the development of the most promising test designs.
Sketching (Excerpt) – Exploring various scenarios, configurations, and behaviors.
Testing Results – In a Nutshell
The testing, which involved 10 carefully selected participants, revealed several key insights and patterns.
Participants favored persistent and direct communication on their devices, with the overview tool serving as a fallback for addressing issues.
One-time approaches, such as “What’s New” or “tips” with indicators, were significantly less effective.
Users already familiar with the feature had different needs compared to those encountering it for the first time. Additionally, the method through which the feature was discovered did not always align with the method that made it fully understood, and there were often differences between the approach used to discover the feature and the participants preferred approach.
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