A design of a multi-mode apple device - iPad X
Feiyang Wu
Aug-Sep/2023
What is iPad X?
iPad X is a virtual product I designed with my tutor in a designing training program, which works as a multi-modes device to adapt to different scenarios.
The big idea
As a multi-modes device, flexibility is the core concept of iPad X. We designed three main function to maximise the ability of iPad X to perform perfectly in different situation: docking, system switching, and iCloud calculation.
Docking: The dock is a critical extra hardware sold with the iPad X, whose main function is to provide extra power to support high-demanding tasks, like video making. The dock is equipped with extra chips, fans and connectors. When connected to the dock, iPad X can work like a desk device instant of a tablet, and providing the user with the best efficiency.
System switching: To serve the users in varies working conditions and to maximise its productivity, iPad X is equipped not only with the iPad OS, but also the Mac OS. The operation systems can be switched as the users want, but we recommend to run Mac OS when connect iPad X to its dock for the best performance and to save the battery life.
iCloud calculation: To satisfy the users' need to finish some high-demanding task without the dock in specific situations and the requirement of saving battery, a built-in cloud calculation system (temporary named as iCloud calculation) is designed. The iCloud calculation system could smartly remember users' simple working flow with specific APPs and allow users to update local data to the servers, and providing them with the results.
In general, iPad X can work as a portable tablet with long battery life, or as a high performance desk device. Users can put the docks in the office and take the tablets everywhere they want, and use cloud calculation in special circumstances. iPad X is a step on the way of pursuing the one-for-all design: no need to buy a laptop, a desktop and a tablet for different circumstances any longer.
Role
In the designing of iPad X, I worked as a UX designer and researcher. I identified the user groups, making personas and user workflows, defined the main pain point of them, raised the big ideas of the product and created the mock-ups and a high-fidelity prototype of several APPs that equipped to iPad X to support its core functions.
User segmentation: student
As a targeting costumer group of iPad X with a high population, student was taken to build a customer segmentation. We analysed the motivation and activities of five different types of students, in order to further understand their pinpoint and core requirement.
Personas
In order to make a further understanding of the target customers, two typical types of university students were selected to build the personas. We analysed their tasks, needs, value centres, and how can they benefit from iPad X. Finally, we put them together and found out their needs in common.
User workflow
To further understand users' needs and pain points while working, we choose Jennifer (the first persona) and made a user workflow for her. We analysed most of her typical activities and highly used software. Based on this information, we listed Jennifer's requirement of functions in her whole workflow.
User interface design: Performance Manager
The performance manager is an unique built-in APP designed for iPad X, allowing users to highly customise the device's hardware performance level in different facets, including battery usage (or charging), fan noise level and chip temperature, to match varies using situations based on users' preferences and to make the best use of the ability of switching system and docking of iPad X.
In addition, performance manager can also notify the users when detecting high-demand tasks (e.g. Running complex statistic tests with a large data base in IBM SPSS) with a estimated time duration and battery usage of completing the task. It also enable the user to customise the device's performance to customise the device's performance to best satisfy their needs (e.g. save battery, best performance, low fan noise, etc.).
Users can customise every default performance mode in settings as well.
User interface design: Auto-task
The auto-task is another important built-in app aiming to make the best use of iPad X's multi-mode function developed based on the shortcuts APP of apple devices. It allow users to customise their own task process, and to order multiple tasks following a flow with conditioning and repetition function. In addition, the functions of performance manager and iCloud calculation are also available when managing the task flow to offer the best customised performance for the user.
Prototype
This prototype was made as a simply exhibition of how some typical and innovative function of iPad X, including OS switch, performance manager and auto-task looks like.
The story: how was the concept of iPad X appeared?
In today’s world, mobile phones and tablets have gained immense popularity and are evolving rapidly. However, many users find it challenging to fully utilize the current hardware performance of such products. Mobile phones and tablets commonly utilize touch screens, which often leads users to unintentionally block the screen with their fingers. When individuals utilize a virtual keyboard, approximately 50% of the screen becomes obstructed, which further impacts the device usability. Purchasing extra keyboards, mice, and other traditional tools will compromise the portability of these devices and amplify their performance limitations when compared to desktop devices. Furthermore, the software ecosystem for these mobile devices is severely lacking. Taking the iPad as an example, while it does use the same chip as the MacBook, the office software on its system is noticeably inferior to that of the Mac in terms of both ease of use and quantity.
However, designing a one-for-all product with current technology seems quite likely to result in a lose-lose condition. For example, I have a Dell XPS 15 9575 laptop, which is designed as a high-performance devices with high portability. However, the pursuit of probability limited its ability of heat dissipation, and thus limited the CPU and GPU performance of it. In addition, although its body is quite thin, the weight of it is not very suitable for carrying it everywhere.
Thus, I tried to add an extra dock to provide extra power to the tablet, but not making it as a laptop. There is no need to consider portability when designing the dock, which allows it to have a large body with a better performance of heat dissipation, in addition, we can equip the tablet with a light body and long battery life.
Of course, those ideas are just theory and stories currently, but I'm excited to try to make it come true as a UX designer in the future.
