Introduction

Overview | Restrictions | Status | Acknowledgements

Overview

The purpose of this document is to provide design guidelines for the development of applications for PDAs and similar industrial devices, targeting "blue-collar" workers and based on a native java implementation.

These guidelines are based on the need to provide a simple, clear, consistent, and intuitive user interface, supporting both touch screen and physical "hard" keyboards with a limited number of keys. Additionally, some users will use fingers or thumbs instead of a pointing device or stylus. Therefore, screens have to be designed with sufficiently large and properly spaced controls.

The guidelines are based on the assumptions that handhelds may be used:

  • In different types of lighting conditions, and can be "washed out" in the sunlight
  • In noisy environments
  • "On-the-go", while conducting physical activities, where users may be easily distracted
  • In dirty, wet, and cold environments

 

Restrictions

SAP mobile applications do not differentiate between left-handed and right-handed users, and do not support blind and visually impaired people.

 

Status

Version 1.0

02/10/03

Once reviewed by development communities, this design document will be tested in a pilot project, and later released as a standard document by the MBS Product Standard Steering Committee.

 

Acknowledgements

This style guide project is managed by Ralph Heidl from the BU MBS Development Architecture.

This document is based on version 1.0, authored by of Torsten Raak (SAP AG) and James Maguire (SAP America) from GCDS-EMEA Solution Exec., reviews by Joëlle Carignan and Ben Tomsky from the User Experience Group (SAP Labs), and by Clare Johnson and Udo Arend from the Usability Engineering Center (SAP AG).

 

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Source:  SAP Style Guide for Blue-Collar Worker PDAs