Some children start using mobile devices at very young ages. Mobile phones can be very powerful tools to support learning and to nurture cognitive capabilities. This webinar addresses UI design considerations for creating games and educational applications for children and teens. Although the webinar focuses on Nokia Asha phones, the findings it examines hold true for mobile devices in general.

1. Kids’ games and educational
app design
Jan Krebber @krebbixux
Senior User Experience Consultant

2. 2 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux
• Opportunities
• Fundamentals
• Interaction design
• UX offering
• Take home messages
Overview

3. Opportunities

4. Mobile phone apps can support
physical outdoor activities.
4 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

5. New ways of learning – the workbook can
always be with you.
5 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

6. New ways of cooperation – dynamic task
splitting becomes reality.
6 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux
individual alternating
split
merged
v
s

7. Reach students at the geographic and
economic edge.
7 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

8. Logging of learning
can help to
understand how
children learn.
8 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

9. Fundamentals

10. Overcome the challenges:
10 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux
• Insufficient reading skills
• Limited search strategies
• Very little patience
• Easy information overload
• Easy task distraction
• Easily working alone

11. In some areas, cell phones are banned from
primary and secondary schools.
11 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

12. Parents are still
needed.
12 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

13. In-app payment
requires child-lock.
13 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

14. There are various ways to create a child lock.
14 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux
a) b)

15. There are various ways to create a child lock.
15 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

16. Combine physical activities
and mental exercise.
16 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

17. A draft outcome is fine
in mobile context.
17 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

18. Design for small screen.
18 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

19. 19 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

20. Make it easy to learn and easy to utilise
content, especially for the teacher.
20 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

21. Be personal – be different.
Be mine.
21 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

22. Interaction design

23. Use clear and frequent
audio prompts.
23 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

24. Action triggers
on touch-down
not on finger lift.
(Vice versa than
for adults.)
24 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

25. Do not cache touch events.
25 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

26. Be careful with multi-touch.
26 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

27. Be careful with functionality.
27 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

28. Show immediate touch feedback.
28 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

29. Test the application with the target audience.
29 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

30. UX offering

31. 31 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux
You find more UX considerations
from our UX libraries.

32. 32 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux
Check also “Design Tips for Game
Developers”.

33. 33 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

34. Take home messages

35. In-app payment
requires child-lock.
35 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

36. 36 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

37. Test the application with the target audience.
37 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux

38. Literature and links.
38 © Nokia 2014 Kids apps and games.pptx 2014-18-03 Jan Krebber @krebbixux
• Nokia Asha UX libraries,
http://developer.nokia.com/resources/library/Asha_UI/inde
x.html
• Design tips for game developers,
http://developer.nokia.com/resources/library/Asha_UI/desi
gn-tips-for-game-developers.html
• Allison Druin, ed. (2009), Mobile technology for children
• Nielsen Norman Group, www.nngroup.com
• 4ourth mobile, www.4ourth.com

39. Thanks to:
- Maaike Beenen
- Sanna Hiukka
- Petri Kiukkonen
- Dirk Figge

40. Thanks. 
Jan Krebber
ext-jan.krebber@nokia.com
@krebbixux