CHAPTER 1
Newton and Its Users
1-2 Know Your Audience
Newton is not a small portable computer with another graphical user
interface. There may be similarities between portable computers and Newton
devices, but the differences summarized below are more important than the
similarities when it comes to designing a user interface for an application.
To take advantage of its distinguishing features and capabilities, Newton has
distinctive user interface elements.
Know Your Audience 1
Identifying and understanding your target audience are among the most
important first steps when you start designing your product. To create a
product that people can and will use, study the people who make up your
target audience.
It’s useful to create scenarios that describe a typical day in the life of a person
you think uses the type of product you’re designing. Think about the different
work spaces, tools, and constraints and limitations that people deal with.
You can also visit actual work places and study how people do their jobs.
Analyze the steps necessary to complete each task you anticipate people
wanting to accomplish. Then design your product to facilitate those tasks,
Newton Portable Computers
Focused function General purpose
New architecture optimized for
mobility and communications—
use it anywhere, any time
Derived from desktop computer
architecture, which is optimized
for stationary operation
Tapping, writing, and drawing
with a pen Typing, pointing, and clicking with
mouse and keyboard
Intelligent assistant Scripting and macros
New and custom applications Existing desktop applications
It’s a communications assistant It’s a personal computer
Simple Complex