Easier User Interface Design for Embedded Systems

Overview:
There are some common rules in the design of user interfaces (UI) in embedded systems, such as, "use common dialogs and buttons familiar to your users" or "keep it simple by limiting user activity, as much as possible, within the context of the current function". However, the design of these buttons, dialog boxes, help screens and other widgets are not always easy to create in resource-limited embedded systems. Furthermore, the amount of time it takes to develop the widgets may limit their use in a UI design and negatively impact the end user's experience. What is needed, is an easy and efficient way to create these widgets. This webinar introduces the GUI library now included in Keil™ MDK-ARM™ Professional Edition that addresses some of the common hurdles in UI design for embedded systems.

Key takeaway points:

1. Design in advance, and design as an end user, not as the programmer
2. Have enough context clues so that a user can walk away and come back, and know what they were doing
3. The system should feel safe so the user can muddle around (i.e. anything that is destructive should have a confirmation screen)

Presenter:
Kevin Bernhard, Product Specialist, ARM
Kevin Bernhardt is product specialist for Keil Tools by ARM. He has more than 9 years experience in embedded systems software development and support.