Android UX/UI

Android UX/UI Design

Android operating systems account for over 70% of the mobile OS market, making it the predominant platform for app engagement in the globe. Within the Android ecosystem, however, there are various versions still in use across the consumer territories.

As an operator, it is critical to success in elevating player engagement that digital offerings are able to cater for the myriad of Android OS versions that are being used by lottery and gaming customers. In order for this to be done efficiently and get the most value return from an app, operators must first be aware of all the capabilities available, especially when it comes to designing for elevated user experience (UX).

See below an outline of some of the most fundamental UX design updates to be introduced to the Android OS.

Android 8 made a huge step forward when it came to accessibility. This version introduced some strong advancements to the scope of usability, including a new volume category for adjusting accessibility volume and fingerprint gestures as an input mechanism. This is a great innovation in regtech as it gives players easier access to eWallets with fingerprint recognition. A great step forward for KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti Money Laundering) .

Multilingual text to speech capabilities were also introduced as well as an accessibility button for invoking one of several enabled accessibility features. New features for processing text more easily, including hint text and locations of on-screen text characters was an exciting step forward for the app user experience. This is especially useful for multijurisdictional operators who service a variety of different languages amongst their players, allowing them to communicate seamlessly and receive better customer support.

Android 9 had a smaller feature set then it’s predecessor, nevertheless some very useful features were added that built on what was originally introduced by Android 8. Features such as notifications were given additional images so that users could be more easily engaged. A fantastic opportunity to give a gaming brand more visibility on the user’s interface and alert them to significant events on the platform e.g., lottery draw results.

Android 10 was a more significant upgrade for the OS as it brought a broad range of new features that enhanced the app aesthetically and operationally. The Dark theme is a great new update. The new system theme changes the User Interface (UI) to dark and enables the dark theme of apps that support it. This also allows developers to now create a custom dark theme for apps adding to the already long list of personalisation and customisation Android offers, also providing strong benefits when it comes to low light and saving on battery usage.

Gesture navigation is a more accessibility focused update. This new mode of navigation eliminates the navigation bar area and allows apps to use the full screen to deliver a more immersive experience. It does this by retaining the familiar, ‘back’, ‘home’ and ‘recents’ navigation options through edge swipes rather than visible buttons. Creating more screen real estate for apps to utilise and create better engagement opportunities.

This version of Android is also significant because it extends the reach of an app to new device types and networks. The update now broadens its multitasking capabilities to foldable devices and their app windows. Providing critical screen continuity to maintain the apps’ state as the device folds or unfolds. It also adds platform support for 5G connectivity, expanding its existing APIs to help take advantage of these enhancements. Developers can now use connectivity APIs to detect if the device has a high bandwidth connection. This provides the perfect opportunity to enhance the artwork and design of apps, maximizing the devices’ ability to process larger amounts of content, providing a more immersive experience, especially for data heavy games like Live Casino.

The main focus of the Android 11 update was on user privacy features, giving the device increased transparency and control. New privacy updates include, one-time permissions, background location access, package visibility, scoped storage enforcement and more. As increasing KYC and player protection regulation is introduced, these features will help to further protect the players and improve AML processes.

There were also some further aesthetic enhancements brought in such as the Waterfall display upgrade which provides several API’s to support displays which wrap around the edge of the device. Further advances were made for foldable support. Devices with hinge-based screen configurations to determine the angle of the hinge by providing a new sensor and a new sensor event that can monitor the hinge angle and provides a measurement in degrees between two integral parts of the device. This feature provides a great opportunity to provide more dynamic jackpot content and enhancing the player experience.

The beauty of Android operating systems is in their ability to be continually customized and configured according to the users evolving needs. The Android updates outlined above all provide key opportunities for operators to create seamless UX for the user. Through optimizing these capabilities, we as an industry, are able to elevate player engagement and overall experience. Furthermore, it gives us the freedom to be creative and innovative, providing a fun and immersive experience for all users.