In the latest Android Q (10.0), Google confirmed that it will adjust the default interface of the Android device, from the classic “return, Home button, multiplex” to become similar to the iPhone X, only placed a “horizontal” at the bottom of the screen. The design of the bar. Google earlier explained in the Android Developer blog that pure gestures were used instead of the traditional “three-button”.
Google points out that there are basically three reasons:
- Full gesture operation allows users to operate the phone in a faster, more natural, and efficient way.
- full gesture operation requires more “intentional”, unlike the button-type operation, which often hold the phone and accidentally trigger.
- Full gesture operation can free up more pictures, so that the app does not have to be covered by the button part, or can be fully displayed on the screen, no need to vacate a cell to accommodate the button, so it can bring a more immersive experience for users At the same time, it is also more responsive to the big screen and narrow border trend of mobile phones.
But Google also said that although the above reasons are very important, let Google observe three years later, decided to try to define the full reason for the full gesture operation on the Android system level, or Google believes that each mobile phone manufacturer’s gestures are not the same, Caused by Android developers.
The new version of the gesture on Android Q is quite similar to the iPhone X series (figure/flipping from the Android developer blog)
Google also said that Android Q’s gesture operation standard is customized with Samsung, Xiaomi, HMD Global, OPPO, OnePlus, LG, Motorola, and other manufacturers, so it can avoid the above-mentioned gesture fragmentation problem.
Back to the study of full-screen gestures
In the article, Google also talked about some research processes for making full gestures, including setting up many models to study user response, ergonomics, efficiency, and frequency of use, and hope to allow users to adapt to new operations at the fastest rate.
Google also admits that the biggest problem with new gestures is to solve one of the biggest differences between Android phones and iOS: the convenient “back button”, and finally Google thinks that sliding directly from the sides of the screen or sliding right will be the same for the user. A more comfortable design when operating by hand, but at the same time Google has also made a reservation design that allows the return button to appear separately to match the new operating bar.
The hotspot area in the picture shows that if you operate with a thumb in one hand, it will be more comfortable to slide left and right, instead of moving the thumb to the bottom of the screen to press the button. This is one of the reasons why Google chose to change the Android Q’s back button to slide from side to side of the screen (Figure / Rewind from Android Developer Blog)
However, Google also pointed out that because of the need to slide up and stop, the new full gesture design will be slower than the past button type when using multiplex, but Google’s survey pointed out that the frequency of users pressing the multiplex key is not too high, so it should still be in the range of tolerance; Google also said that full gesture operation is a more suitable one-handed operation, and after the actual measurement, although the user needs to adapt to 1-3 days (the main reason is not familiar with the operation bar) Slide to switch the app), but the overall can achieve some operational tasks faster than the traditional three buttons.
In the experience of the reporter, the operation of communicating the return button of the Android phone with the elders is far more intuitive than the single Home button and gestures on the iPad. In the report, Google also pointed out that some users still feel that the traditional “three buttons” are the most Convenient, so although Android Q is preset to full gestures, users can still change it back from the settings.