“To clarify, add detail.”
Edward Tufte said this about how to improve and utilize the iPhone interface from 2008. I don’t necessarily agree with this idea, at least not in the examples he was throwing out. It really caught me off guard when he discussed the weather application and how it was too thin. I think the simplicity of the app makes it clear and easy to understand whereas the mock up he did of his ideal weather app was so cluttered. Adding too much to the app such as the map made it difficult to narrow in on anything besides the map, which didn’t show me anything but moving clouds.
I question if he would like the newly released interface. In comparing the 2008 interface to the newly released interfaces weather app, I really like the direction Apple decided to take. If they had come out with something like what Tufte recommended, I probably would have downloaded a different weather app. However, the new weather app is more detailed, but just as clean and clear. It is still simple, but provides more detail with the hourly forecast and hidden details like humidity, chance of rain, wind and feels like. Apple added more detail in what visually seems like the right way. They did not just throw all the information on the same screen. If Tufte had recommended something like hidden details or tap-to-see the map/thorough forecast, it would have been much more appealing at least in my opinion.
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