As an Android developer who gets to talk with many of the local companies I've recently noticed a pattern in the Android space that I wanted to share.
High end tools and machines often contain some kind of display that describes the status of the tool or provides a way to configure or operate the tool. And by "tools and machines" I'm covering a huge variety of products.
Look at the control panel for the new LifeFitness exercise machines below.
It is pretty clear that this could be done using an Android device (and I believe it is).
I call this kind of application a "Panel" app.
What 6 qualities differentiate this from a typical app.
- Fixed in place (built into the machine or tool)
- Custom user interface (doesn't follow the Android UI guidelines)
- Other apps are unavailable or hidden (the user can't run their own apps)
- Targeted to a very small set of devices (only runs on the tablet built into the machine)
- Users engage with it frequently and over a long period of time (so they can learn custom interface)
- interface with underlying machine or tool
The other similar, but slightly different, kind of device runs a single purpose app also. I call it a "Koisk" app.
The 4 characteristics of a Kiosk app
- Public (think shopping mall)
- Wider audience (user has brief use of it, so must be easy to use which means that it should work like apps the user is familiar with) follow design guidelines
- Fixed in place (mounted on a wall)
- Locked down (can only run target app)
These apps never appear in the marketplace but are great opportunities for Android developers. Keep them in mind when you search for your next consulting gig.
