But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in observing people on their mobile devices, it’s that they’ll do anything on mobile if they have the need. Write long emails? Check. Manage complex sets of information? Check. And the list goes on. If people want to do it, they’ll do it on mobile -especially when it’s their only or most convenient option. — Luke Wroblewski
I agree with almost everything in that post, but I would make one change.
In order to allow users to do what they need, we have to give them what they need. That means that we don’t hide content from users that is needed just because they have a smaller screen. I’m not good that this and I have a lot of work to do to get better, but that’s the goal. Content should be available to all users regardless of what client they are currently using.
I use my iPhone when I am sitting on the couch at home as much as I do while I am actually on the go. When am I am “mobile” user? The line is blurred because smart phones and tablets are more personal computers than mobile, and far more personal computers than desktops and laptops have ever been.
So exciting.
One reply on “Giving “Mobile” Users a Chance”
You hit on the right question: what do we consider a mobile user and why do we put them in a different category? All too often the design choice is to take the content away just to save space because mobile is supposed to = small screen.
In all design, broad generalizations will kill you and there’s always exceptions to the rule. What I like to see is designs that strip off the fancy, high-bandwidth crud and just get you the data. I think Tumblr and Arstechnica.com are two good examples of mobile done (mostly) right.