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Design Challenges

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This topic describes different types of challenges in designing a Windows Media Center application.

Navigation Challenges

Consider the following challenges when the primary input device is a remote control:

  • Different interaction models are used. A mouse can move focus arbitrarily to any location on the screen. The Windows Media Center remote control does not provide the same granularity.
  • Traditional user interface (UI) elements can be hard to use, such as a selectable text hyperlink denoted only by an underline. Sliders and drop-down menus (combo boxes) are also difficult to use with a remote control.
  • Navigation and usage of all features should always be limited to use of the Up, Down, Left, Right, Select and Back buttons on the remote control. A focus highlight must always be present.

The first challenge is to limit the input device to the remote control, which affects how you lay out UI items and pages. A good start is to align elements to a logical grid so that they map to the strict requirement of up, down, left, and right navigation.

Multiple Input Model Challenges

Consider the following challenges when enabling three standard input models (mouse, keyboard, and remote control):

  • Windows Media Center PCs are used in many environments, including traditional locations in the home (for example, in a home office or a den on a desk, or in a living room or home theater connected to a large display such as TV or HDTV) or over a connected device such as a Media Center Extender or Xbox 360.
  • Interaction models should be resilient and allow for all three input models.

The design should allow for easy and seamless transition from the desktop to the couch without disrupting the experience.

Multiple Device Challenges

Consider the following challenges when designing your application to be used within Windows Media Center and a Media Center Extender:

  • Your application will render differently depending on whether it is being used on a Windows Media Center PC, an Xbox 360 being used as a Media Center Extender, or a third-party Media Center Extender.
  • Animations may not play on certain devices.
  • Pop-up windows, new windows, and non-Windows Media Center dialog boxes will not be displayed on a Media Center Extender and may cause the device to disconnect.

By following the design guidelines in this SDK, applications should work well on all devices.

Distance Challenges

General design principles used for traditional desktop UI (such as interface scale, density, and navigation) are too complex for use with the remote control from a distance. Consider the following:

  • Most conventional desktop display design principles fail when viewed from a distance.
  • The design for Windows Media Center is related to all other distance designs.
  • Keep it clean and simple—avoid density.

For examples of good designs that allow you to view full screens of information from a distance, consider pedestrian and traffic signs, posters, billboards, and DVD menus.

Usability Challenges

Consider the following challenges for implementing simplicity and ease of use:

  • A simple UI in the style of consumer devices.
  • Understandable UI at first glance.
  • A minimal learning curve.
  • The fewest number of steps to accomplish a task.

Distance user experiences test very well when they are simple and the interface is clear and consistent.

Rather than thinking about developing software for a computer, approach the design more from a traditional consumer electronics standpoint. Whatever you develop should be as easy and intuitive to use as turning on a TV set and changing channels.

Business Challenges

Consider the following challenges when creating the user experience:

  • Ease of content discovery and use
  • Sharing content
  • Browsing content
  • Rich experiences that differentiate from competitors.
  • Interactive and on-demand features.

Not all parts of a business contribute to a great user experience with a distance user interface. When creating an application that works well from a distance (rather than from the desktop), try to incorporate the more visually-exciting and content-rich parts of your design into the Windows Media Center application, and streamline the management portions as much as possible.

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