[IxDA Discuss] Multi-channel user interface design

[Barbara Ballard]

On 8/18/07, Daniel Szuc <dszuc at apogeehk.com> wrote:
> "The issue is why would you use the screen when you can phone someone up?" -
> Spot on!
>
> That's the core of my question 2. Are there any banking tasks that are more
> suited to the mobile/cell phone as opposed to calling someone? Are there
> times or reasons where you would want to use/have used the mobile/cell phone
> for certain tasks (rather than calling someone).

Yes, absolutely -- but perhaps not in the directions you are thinking.

What if I had an online checkbook (either at the bank or elsewhere)?
I could text to my checkbook the payment I just made.  If the site was
separate from my bank, they could talk regularly.

What if my phone also had location?  A local application might be able
to tag that input as groceries.

What if my bill payment service was tied into the bank account, and
had a projected balance?  I could be alerted whenever a transaction
occurred that dropped me below some minimum.

What if I could actually make payments with the phone directly, to a
person or a retail location?  What if coupons were included?  (okay,
this steps out of mobile banking)

What if I had a money widget or application on my phone, and
interfaced with the bank through some unified experience?

What if a user + bank wanted extra security when shopping online
(phone or elsewhere), and required typing a three digit code generated
by the phone application (with a network call?) before the purchase
could be made?

Also, some people truly despise making phone calls.  It definitely
runs in my family.  I call the bank only if circumstances force me to.


All of this reinforces the idea that the mobile experience is
significantly more than a stripped down desktop experience.

Barbara Ballard
www.littlespringsdesign.com