Navigation
Navigation is the foundation of a usable and accessible application. Accessible navigation requires that users know where they are in the application at all times. In the mobile environment, a user's attention is frequently diverted elsewhere. Only the simplest structure is likely to be comprehended and remembered once the user puts the phone down or is interrupted.
The core usability problem with mobile applications is that users spend a significant amount of time navigating to content through a series of views before getting what they want. It is often easy to get lost in a complicated view structure, especially if the user is not familiar with the application. Each screen in a mobile application should have information that helps the user answer these two basic questions:
Where am I?
Where can I go from here?
Figure: Touch application navigation
In this example, the main view of the Notes application provides a space for writing a new note, quick access to previous notes, and clearly labeled softkeys. Subtle visual cues hint that the user can scroll right to display more saved notes. The most important features are available immediately, without unnecessary navigation effort.
Navigation logic should be consistent throughout the entire application.
In this section: