design considerations when building cross platform mobile applications
DESCRIPTION
SuperConnect's Director of Technology Chris Balcer presented at Chicago's Mobile Monday event on July 23, 2012. As SuperConnect builds apps to expand the abilities of mobile computing for enterprise workers, the technology team is addressing various design considerations.TRANSCRIPT
Monday, July 23, 2012
MOBILE. MONDAY.
BACKGROUND
About me & SuperConnect
Chris Balcer Director of Technology Innovation at SuperConnect• Microsoft technologies background • Worked with Android, iOS, C#,C++, … the
list goes on…• Prior experience: Arthur Andersen, Hitachi
Consulting, HubbardOne, William Blair & Company, Slalom Consulting
SuperConnect• Division of Slalom, LLC• Founded by Dave Cutler, Jordan Fladell &
Garret Carlson April 2, 2012• First product roll out in BETA July 19, 2012
SUPERCONNECT VISION
The vision of SUPERCONNECT is to create innovative tools for employees that enable them to get their work done more effectively and efficiently by supporting the new work styles of today including mobility, gamification, social computing and more.
WORK. BETTER.
BUILD IT RIGHT
Designing for cross platform applications
Visual Design & User Experience• Must be appealing and brand-able• K.I.S.S. – Must be easy to use
Application Architecture• Scalable• Cost-effective
Data Flow & Volume• Amount of data that needs to be moved /
viewed
Security • Make use of existing security mechanisms
used by customers
design
data
arch
security
CONNECTIONS: OUR FIRST PRODUCT
• Built on an enterprise class, multi-tenant cloud platform
• Native apps for iOS and Android; mobile web for other device
• “No code” configuration of data, presentation, and branding
• Integration with Active Directory, Exchange, SharePoint, LinkedIn and Twitter
1. SmartSearch – type-ahead search of contacts across company-specified fields
2. SmartConnect – real-time availability and “behavioral presence” intelligently determines best way to connect
3. SmartSchedule – schedule meetings with multiple people based on calendar availability
Connections: world’s smartest mobile
corporate directory
VISUAL DESIGN & UX
The BLANK Slate
BRANDABILITYBe smart, keep it simple• User experience on each device
differs in some way• 80 / 20 rule
LOWEST COST / MAINTENANCEPush it up the chain• Application power resides on the server• Massage / cleanse images before going mobile
CUSTOMIZABLE DATA / UITemplating helps where customers cannot• Designer-defined templates for components• Data driven population
APPLICATION ARCHITECTURE
Does a square ever fit
into a round hole?BRANDABILITYDesign once, apply everywhere• iOS & Android native applications• Mobile Web• Windows 8? Windows Phone 7/ 8?
LOWEST COST / MAINTENANCEDevelop once, deploy everywhere• PhoneGap• Appcelerator Titanium• Mobile Web for ALL?
CUSTOMIZABLE DATA / UIUltimate flexibility, make it all dynamic• Data driven UI• User experience across platforms• Big data decisions & SQLite
recover
available
APPLICATION ARCHITECTURE
To the Cloud
Scale & Expand• Use cloud computing for scale at low cost
– Windows Azure• Services help for scale & expansion
Recover & Maintain • Push recovery and maintenance to
companies that do just that
Cost Effective• Quick prototypes• Fast fail• Helps with sales to be able to set up
demos
scale expand
maintain performcost
effective
DATA FLOW & VOLUME
BIG DATA in a little world … or device
Search is pretty important• Data structure : tall tables• Indexing
Corporate Directory to device• Huge clients = huge directories• Images plus data
No guaranteed connection • Mobile / wireless carrier networks are not
reliable• Connections can be dropped / throttled
Multi-tenancy• Handled on the data / services tier
DATA FLOW
Customer Data sources
Transmitted JSON files
Committed to tenant
databases
All data pushed / synched using
web service tier
Data loaded into SQLite DB on
devices
SECURITY
Large corporations = Extensive security
Human resource data• Most data is not public – and cannot be
Utilize corporate security policies• AD / ADFS• System integrations – calendars,
directory, presence
Tenant & User Management• Simple management through admin
console• Internal• Customer-facing
CONNECTIONS DEMO
QUESTIONS