Motion and Sound
Animation and Sound
Animation and sound are effective tools for creating meaningful interaction design.
Let's identify examples of animation used as a signifier and examples of sound used as a signifier for the operating system of a computer.
A Macbook Pro
Examples of sound and animation used as signifiers.
Sound
Don Norman tells us that when we can’t visually tell our user what to do, we have sound. Sound plays a huge role in how we live, from the natural sounds of nature, to the sounds we have come to know that comes naturally with our technology.
Animation
Animation is a part of our everyday life, despite our preferences for the things we like to screen. Animation helps the user to understand how they are interacting with the system.
Swipe to Dashboard
As I swipe to the dashboard, anything that was up currently is “pushed” aside so the dashboard can display.
This animation is similar to the enabled swipe function I have to swipe between apps, animated as if I was swiping through with the apps in my my hands
Loading Animation
Right now, I usually see this icon when something is loading on my computer.
I used to see the colored spinning wheel of death, but feel like I haven’t seen it for a while due to updates. Regardless, this animation lets me know my computer is working on loading something.
Pop up Apps
I can set my apps to pop out from any side of my computer, and as I mouse over the area, they pop up.
This is nice use of animation, as the apps to not take up screen real estate!
Keyboard Clicks
The subtle clicks on the keyboard are a satisfying indication that I am getting letters and words on screen.
The keyboard clicks might not seem like a major part of how we use our computer until you type away on an older keyboard. (Or even a typewriter.)
Snap of a Charger
Along with the magnet pulling my charger in place, and the piece makes a snapping sound as it finds its place to charge.
The snap in feature that can charge from either side is the most efficient charger I have for any of my devices.
Shutting Laptop
Users will have moments where they interact quickly, I have times that I need to quickly shut my computer.
The sound my computer makes if I try to slam it, sounds like feathers hitting. I hear the air move out from under it, and the sound as it shuts is a quiet reminder that my computer is good to me, although sometimes I might not be too good to my computer.
Startup Sound
Apple has been through some awesome startup sounds over the years, the startup chime is iconic.
I rarely turn my computer off and on, but the restart is always nice because the startup chime lets me know all is well.
In-coming Mail
I hear a woosh sound, when I receive a new email. I have noticed this with other email systems, but as long as I am signed in on my computer I hear this specific sound for my apple account.
Apple used this sound for email notifications on the ipad and iphone as well, standardizing the sound for incoming email for apple products.