Tablets. Gadget or Game Changer?

Tablet users are slowly chipping away at the number of people who traditionally used computers to surf the web, stream videos, and play online games. Tablets offer a new, more intense level of interaction with online content and provide on-the-go information and entertainment. 2011 is being forecasted as the 'year of the tablet' as hardware providers such as Dell, Motorola and Samsung are releasing models to compete with the market leader the Apple iPad.

Many are wondering if the tablet is just a fad in the technology industry or if it is another stepping stone for how users consume their information. As the demand for instant news and connection grows, these more mobile devices become a necessity. Spawned from Smartphones and similar devices, tablets can be used to make your life more convenient and enjoyable.

Tablets fill the gap between mobile phones and laptops. They offer functionality for both business and personal needs and have a wide range of relevancy besides just surfing the web on-the-go. Using apps from the Android and Apple markets, the tablet can transform into an e-reader, a personal banking center, and a television or movie theater. Tablets are also being used for educational purposes, by nurses and practitioners, aviation companies, and for IT/help desk tasks. All of these uses and applications intertwine tablets deeper into the market.

Changing the game for user expectations, many industries are trying to adapt and respond to the increased demand for readily available information. Many magazines and newspapers are now offering paid subscriptions for tablet users to avoid being left behind. Netflix has responded by designing an app that allows you to access and stream videos in your cue. Students can buy their textbooks online and download them directly to their tablet.

Customization is currently one of the largest trends in the technology industry. Everyone wants their device to operate in a specific way to meet their personal needs. Laptops don't offer the same flexibility for customizing information that apps for mobile devices and tablets offer. With companies providing subscriptions and open source app markets becoming more popular, users have the freedom to decide and personalize their tablet as they wish.

As an interactive agency, we have to consider what this new technology and format means when developing websites. It adds another layer of considerations besides just the computer and mobile version of your website to the mix, which include:

• Flash. Once considered an elegant visual to engage users and present information, this technology can be a road block between tablet users and content.
• Clickables. Fingers take up more real estate than a mouse pointer and they aren't as accurate. If links are too small or close together it can result in frustration with the site.
• Interaction. Computer users can click and drag with their mouse, but the touch screen of a tablet can afford you more interaction with the site. Swiping. Pinching. Rotating. You can connect on a deeper interactive level with sites that utilize these engaging features.
• Forms. Used to bring visitors back to a site, you want users to sign up for newsletters, fill out contact forms, etc. On a tablet these simple forms can be hard to navigate, drop down menus might not work, or there might be too many fields for such a small screen.

The bottom line - tablets are becoming a part of everyday life. Consumers require immediate information and the tools to get it. However, they bring new requirements for websites to the table and as a result are changing the way designers build websites.