Cullmann Design Blog

I became interested in embedded operating systems like those found in cars early this year while developing ideas for clients. While the idea of designing special interfaces for drivers is as old as the automobile, making intuitive interfaces for computers and people without visuals is a somewhat less developed art. For these interfaces to work for a distracted driver barreling down the freeway is all new territory for almost all User Interface (UI) designers.

So why not leave automotive design to the auto-industry? Because the auto industry is coming to the user interface designer. Particularly, the explosion of smartphone ownership and a crack-down on handset use while driving will spur a market for applications to help the driver navigate, monitor conditions and make changes to their environment. Auto manufactures are quickly recognizing the need to create a safe and easy way to allow drivers to use their devices. Ford, an early adopter to in-cabin technology has announced a solution for developers to interface smartphones with their SYNC technology.

Ford’s AppLink SYNC SDK will allow for the voice-activated system in the car (which is already charged with navigation, audio and communication controls) to control applications on iOS (iPhone), Android and BlackBerry devices. Although Ford is not the only company to provide an computer control interface or voice-activated controls, it is the first to have a solution that developers are gravitating to.

Currently, the SYNC system, is only available in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. Similar systems are available from GM (marketed under the OnStar brand) and Chrysler (UConnect), but few foreign car builders are providing a challenge to Ford. None of Ford’s competitors are as fast to provide solutions for developer either. For a market driven by technology, the uptake by the development community will fuel both innovation and adoption.

For someone who is designing solutions for consumers to take advantage of technology while driving, Ford’s AppLink is the first step to modern design solutions for developers and user interface experts. Currently, the SDK will provide developers the ability to use voice control, steering wheel buttons, text-to-speech features and vehicle data (speed, gps location, etc).

Although in-vehicle application development provides challenges, the ability to present the driver with solutions for comfort, communication, health and safety is a completely new frontier that had previously been limited to those in automotive circles.

Learn more about AppLink for the Ford SYNC

Working with the healthcare industry presents a lot of creative challenges: Legal disclaimers, required safety information, “small” print that appears at an equal font-size to headlines, lack of visual dividers between content and legalize. There are a lot of challenges.

I believe healthcare advertising presents opportunity. A creative person can certainly look at the constrictions and see many hurdles. A very creative person sees a challenge and a niche. Within this niche is a huge chance to find kernels of genius and stretch within the box presented by such a regulated industry.

It’s too easy to look at design obstacles and not think of who and what you are designing or writing for or how you can help educate your clients and legal council. I think that all too often designers, writers and brand teams don’t take advantage of how new this media is and just how versatile. All too often a design may be criticized due to a lack of understanding or miss-understood application.

For users, although there are many things you can’t say and many more things you must say, getting to information and health content quickly and easily is critical. Imagine a patient, newly diagnosed with a disease that is severe, or worse yet, potentially terminal. How does this person navigate your website or application? What language do you use? What call to action? Despite having legal disclaimers and safety information, how is your user going to approach learning about your treatment or offering? How is this scared, confused and potentially confused patient going to find disease and treatment information.

Healthcare professional content should have similar consideration. How does a busy doctor determine which product is the right choice for their patient? For which disease state and indication? How can he find information or educational material to alleviate their patient’s fears and worries?

This post isn’t designed as a pulpit piece, but rather as something to center creative thought when it feels weakened by some of the constraints presented by regulated industry. It’s written as a lens for the efforts of those working beneath layers of decision makers and stake-holders. It should also be a rally cry for educating this same group that presents the challenges. Educating and informing those who are making requirements is the best way to sway and alter their perspective.

You will have to believe in your work and be it’s advocate to win these groups over and change what can be done in our industry for the better. You will have to be an evangelist and tireless to provide alternatives and put your best effort forward regardless of how receptive the audience.

I write about Google quite a bit. They tend to make some very big waves in the industry and effect not only the anthropological group that I belong to, but the public as a whole. The announcement of the Google Chrome Web Store is no exception. The new store, designed to support a pending roll-out of the new Google Chrome OS, makes a lot of sense. The operating system, based entirely on connection to the internet for utility, will need it’s equivalent to the AppStore. In its current form I wasn’t sure on whether it was without use or without a home.

At first, the store seems a bit out of place. Why would anyone want to “install” a bookmark? Or root themselves to one location for their webapps? Sync.

Google’s Chrome browser supports a synchronization feature that, when logged into from any computer, duplicates your browser’s apps and all of the accounts and web applications that you are using. And, with a web-based application, all of your settings and files are identical as well. The real offering is a move towards a “thin-client” that has Google at the hub of your online experience. A move away from the desktop OS, away from platforms and away from boxed software packages.

For the enterprise, this model offers a flexibility that is completely unprecedented. Imagine a sales force that was without reliance on IT support. Or a work-force that could operate virus-free and with continuous and real-time software updates. Templates, pricing schedules, policies could all be updated immediately with no latency or mistaken files.

A brilliant idea. And, like the iPad, Google is starting with the consumer market as both a testing ground and a path to gain confidence with users.

On Thanksgiving Day, I am finding much to be thankful for: My wonderful wife, my family, my dogs, a healthy life, a nice home. The list is long and I feel like I have been blessed by good fortune.

To stay on theme with this blog, I feel lucky too that I can practice my craft. There are many forks and decisions that have landed me in my current situation and I am pleased that I have both the time, experience and means to do what I love. It seems like I am a minority of people who get up and greet the day with enthusiasm for their work. For this, I am grateful. There are days when it gets tough, days when decisions are hard and pressure is high, but the next morning is always a new day with opportunity.

Today, the chance to change my corner of the world in a very small way is one of the tings that  I am very thankful for.

Are you addicted to your social media channel? Fanatical about Facebook? Totally tuned into Twitter? Then the team at RockMelt have created a browser you can’t live without. Like Flock before it, this new browser marries a ton of social media utility with the browser you’re using to roam the web.

Built on the Google Chrome open source project, RockMelt is a browser that is created around social interaction. It has much of the functionality found in the latest release of Chrome, but adds in-browser integration for Facebook and Twitter. The inclusion of Facebook comes from several very intuitive features: A sidebar showing your friends and the Facebook chat interface, your news stream, and the ability to share the website you’re currently visiting via a single-click button in the address bar.

If your tendency is more towards Twitter, the share button can toggle between Facebook and Twitter both using RockMelt’s own shortening service “http://me.lt”. A running Twitter feed is included in the sidebar without having to visit Twitter.com or use a third-party client.

As a Chrome user, RockMelt is easy and feels right at home, although on a smaller screen, the sidebar makes websites feel cramped and closed in. The browser is snappy and if you spend a lot of time sharing links and posts, than the embedded utility is a very nice cool addition. I think RockMelt feels a little strange, but I toss that up to my being a browser purist. I have been a long-time FireFox user and Chrome user. I tend to use only a very few add-ons for web development and debugging. RockMelt has been a fun diversion, but I’ve found myself returning to my old-favorites with no regrets.

Take a look at RockMelt’s promotional clip or listen to the interview with RockMelt CEO, Eric Vishria.