User Experience and User Interface Defined

Users need to feel engaged and at ease when they visit your website.

 

By Leila Kojouri

 

User Interface Development is defined as the development of websites, web applications, mobile applications, and software. The User Interface plays a key role in the software development life cycle [SDLC]. Most people assume UI development is all about creating websites and writing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but user interface goes far beyond these technical terms. The goal of the user interface is to make the user’s interaction as simple and efficient as possible, in terms of accomplishing user goals.

 

Think about it this way: The user experiences only front end interactions, such as the look and feel of the website/application. More often than not, they don’t concern themselves with the back end – like app design, coding elements, or methodologies employed in content layout. What’s more, users need to feel engaged and at ease when they visit your website.  That’s where UI engineers come into the picture – to fulfill this task.

 

Cultivating a User Interface can be divided into two phases in website/application/software development:

 

1. Research + Design
2. Development

 

Research and Design:

 

Research and analysis are all about interviewing users & project stakeholders and gathering their input to create a requirements document that includes personas, user scenarios, user behavior, and user experience evaluation metrics. During this phase, it is also important to understand the target audience so as to better cultivate a user experience design.

 

Business analysts and a user experience team usually lead the research phase. Both teams collect all information and inputs from users and project stakeholders in order to discuss technical terms with developers and project managers. Lastly, they prepare final documentation.

 

With the help of documentation, UX teams start the design process. They first create the wireframes to bring a rough idea to the project stakeholders and users.

 

Wireframes are presented as a comprehensive screen layout consisting of black and white sketches of every screen in the application. At this point, the visual and graphic design processes dictating the visual appeal have not yet begun.

 

Wireframe Example:

 

Next, developers must focus on  creating prototypes that will simulate the real application. A prototype can contain one or more features, but it actually does nothing. It merely simulates the behavior of a real application, and users can see color combinations and minimal functionality in real time. Wireframes/Sketches and Prototypes are done by UX designers.

 

 

Tools to create Wireframes and Prototypes

 

Balsamiq Mockups

Axure

Gliffy

iPhone mockup

InDesign

Photoshop

Fireworks

Dreamweaver

 

UX Designer Role and Responsibilities:

 

• Strong conceptualization ability, strong visual communication ability, drawing skills and sketchbook technique.
• Strong working knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Fireworks and associated design tools.
• Strong working knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript/JQuery.
• Experience with user interface design patterns and standard UCD methodologies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially the ability to clearly articulate design decisions with stakeholders and development teams.
• Understanding of common software development practices.
• Solid understanding of user-centered design principles, careful attention to detail, and ability to grasp complex, nuanced product requirements.
• Collaborating on user experience planning and researching interaction design trends.
• Researching technology trends.

 

Note: Responsibilities would be based on company and project requirements.

 

UI Development

 

UI development can be considered as the middle ground work by combining both design sensibilities and technicalities together. UI developers are skilled at making a smooth appearance and proper functionality in a browser/device at the same time. They have the production skills vital to communicate with backend developers and collect data from server/backend and displaying to the user. They are fully responsible for the client side/front end logics including web design and functionalities.

 

UI Developer and Role and Responsibilities:

 

• Responsible for building Web Applications using Single Page Application (SPA) paradigm.
• Develop software solutions using industry best practices and in the area of security and performance in a web and SOA architecture environment.
• Effectively develop in a clean, well structured, easily maintainable format.
• Participate in the full SDLC with Requirements, Solution Design, Development, QA Implementation, and product support using Scrum and other agile methodologies.
• World-class HTML5/CSS3 and especially JavaScript/jQuery skills and good knowledge on other major JavaScript libraries and frameworks.
• Skilled in using a CSS preprocessor to speed up development (LESS, SCSS).
• Detailed knowledge of cross-browser UI issues and hacks.
• Social technology API experience (Primarily Facebook, and also Twitter)
• Experience creating, as well as consuming, JSON-based APIs.
• Understand executing accessibility and progressive enhancement presentation.
• Ensure design consistency with client’s development standards and guidelines.

 

Note: Responsibilities would be based company and project requirements.

 

A few examples of UI Developer technologies:

 

• HTML5 and CSS3
• Bootstrap, Boilerplate
• JavaScript (OPP)
• jQuery and jQuery Mobile
• Json
• Ajax
• BackboneJS
• Underscore
• AngularJS
• EmberJS
• KnockoutJS
• RequirJS
• CanJS
• ExtJS
• Dojo
• YUI
• Grunt
• Bower
• Yeoman
• MongoDB
• NodeJS
• MySQL

 

 

The post User Experience and User Interface Defined appeared first on Software Development & IT Staffing Company.

Click here for more...
from #Bangladesh #News aka Bangladesh News Now!!!

3 Trends in Enterprise Mobility

Enterprise mobility trends are seeing an uptick in cloud usage, AI, and BYOD

 

Enterprise mobility suits a wide variety of business models, sizes, and scales. Because of this, many business owners are increasingly embracing technology trends in the realm of enterprise mobility. In embracing and incorporating the top enterprise mobility trends into business models, organizations are reaping substantial benefits.

 

Increased productivity, enhanced communication, and unified collaboration throughout operations are just a few ways mobility is improving organizational landscapes. These promising factors, coupled with the era of digital transformation, are driving mobility’s surge in the global market.

 

1. Advanced Cloud-based Storage 

 

Advancements in mobility are helping businesses to sharpen their competitive edge. When integrated properly, enterprise mobility management can transform the workplace in everything from security measures to cloud computing. As it stands, cloud-based tech trends have largely dominated new releases in the marketplace. touted for ease of access, device management becomes much simpler when it is facilitated through the cloud – especially when it comes to storage.

 

As the need for more robust storage alternatives increases, so does the migration to all-things-cloud. Massive, big data stores teeming with highly sensitive information necessitate safer, better storage solutions. With advanced cloud-based tech, organizations can secure as little, or as much data as necessary. Without pesky limitations in spatial or geographical requirements, for some, the only obstacle for accessibility lies in securing a proper wi-fi connection. 

 

Because security is paramount, strict user-entitlement reviews ensure that only authorized individuals maintain credentials and accessibility to the data stores.  Mobility security makes location-based access a thing of the past, dissolving commonplace limitations in other institutional storage options, like data warehouses, for instance. 

 

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

 

You’ve probably noticed how artificial intelligence (ai) has gone from the stuff of science fiction to modern, every-day usage. As developments in AI tech continue to surge and grow at a rapid-fire pace, more companies seek to adopt it in their practices. AI’s highly effective instrumentation is finding it’s way into everything from customer on-boarding to optimizing call center routines of customer service representatives.

 

Most notably, AI is fueling the overwhelming need for businesses to adopt everything automation. The cost-saving benefits of automated work processes speak volumes. What’s more, consumer profiles are more easily understood and interpreted through the use of AI.

 

Targeted marketing efforts are easier and closing a sale takes less time with predictive analytics. By understanding the core behavior of customers, user experiences can also be crafted and customized harmoniously. Those reluctant or slow to adapt may soon face a rude awakening as the popularity of AI-driven solutions are infiltrating virtually all aspects of business operations. 
 

3. BYOD – Bring Your Own Device

 

Our ever-growing reliance on mobile technologies is perhaps most evident in our daily routines.  Mobile devices, like smartphones, tablets, laptops, and wearables, to name a few, take precedence in everything we do – especially in the workplace. Productivity tracking mobile apps help us prioritize, schedule, execute and repeat – on time and on schedule. 

 

Like digital life rafts, our connected devices keep us abreast of our to-do lists, and without them, we feel powerless and fettered with anxiety. Businesses are now capitalizing on our inherent need to be plugged-in – with many in recent years offering a “bring your own device” alternative to places of employment. 

 

The idea behind this methodology is that our workflow can more easily be accommodated when we’re equipped with our own items; pre-configured to our tastes, settings, and requirements. By spending less money on purchasing devices for office use, businesses can save gratuitous amounts of money. However, this can be considered risky when it comes to managing proprietary data. The risk can be curbed with a management solution that limits the use of personal equipment to proprietary apps and networks. 

 

The post 3 Trends in Enterprise Mobility appeared first on Software Development & IT Staffing Company.

Click here for more...
from #Bangladesh #News aka Bangladesh News Now!!!

Artificial Intelligence and The Power of Sight

How Deep Neural Networks perform Image Classification

 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are becoming exponentially more popular in the business world – especially when used as tools to better meet business objectives. Through the process of deep learning neural networks, AI and ML have the ability to classify images.  A common and highly effective approach to deep learning on small image datasets is to use a pre-trained network like VGG16 and RESNET. One can also build custom deep learning models for image classification.

 

There are several popular Deep Learning Frameworks, including:

1. Tensor Flow/Keras
2. Pytorch
3. CNTK (Cognitive Toolkit)
4. Sage Maker

 

Teaching Computers How to Recognize Objects: 

When implementing the right tools, we can empower our computers with the ability of recognition, where they can virtually distinguish images from one another. The popular CIFAR-10 Dataset is representative of this ability, pictured below. Each picture has been assigned a label corresponding to the category of image class. The images and labels are grouped according to the “training data,” or the classification of the various models. The training data is assigned to an image upon its discovery, providing a label for the computer to recognize moving forward

 

 

Reference: https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~kriz/cifar.html

 

How a Deep Neural Network Interprets and Classifies an Image

A deep neural network learns the features of an image by recognizing certain attributes, or layers illustrated below.  Upon recognition of the image or the input, the network first analyzes the simple elements of the photo, like the outer most edges. Then, an analysis is performed of the corners and contours within the image, followed by a final assessment of the most complex features which identifies the various parts within.

 

 

 E-commerce website – online Self-service Use Case

Online self-service is essential for businesses who rely on e-commerce. For example, in the plumbing industry, one of the major challenges customers face is purchasing a spare part for their household plumbing repairs.  The customer, or end user, may not know the product code (or PLU#) necessary to place the order for the part they need. While customer care agents can assist with these transactions, it’s best if the customer can simply identify the part by relying on the artificial intelligence inherent in their computer’s deep neural network, exhibited in the case study below.

 

Problem: An online shopper does not have the right PLU# associated with the part needed to repair a plumbing issue in their home. The only frame of reference the customer has is a picture of the part they have uploaded.

 

Solution: The build artificial intelligence (or deep neural network) image matching module compares the given image from the customer with images of all cataloged products, identifying the most accurate match for their consideration.

 

Benefits:

• Improves end-user experience and customer satisfaction.
• Reduces manual intervention (by customer care agents) in identifying the right spare part
• Provides hassle-free customer service.

 

Model development – Practical Tips

Here are some tips for customizing the model to work for you.

 

 

Model performance and Improvement process

Is the model performing poorly? Identify defects within the model’s performance as a result of overfitting, underfitting, or defective software.

 

Overfitting/Underfitting

Underfitting occurs when the model unable to fit within the parameters of the training data (i.e. improper image settings), resulting in a high error rate on both the training data and unseen test data. As a result, the difference between error rates is less.

When overfitting occurs, the model perfectly fits the training data, and can properly identify training data, but fails on unseen data. So the low error rate is observed on training data and a high error rate is observed on unseen test data. The resulting difference between error rates will be very high.

 

 

Model Improvement Process

Ensure your objectives are met by monitoring and applying incremental changes such as gathering new data, adjusting  hyperparameters, or changing algorithms.

 

 

The post Artificial Intelligence and The Power of Sight appeared first on Software Development & IT Staffing Company.

Click here for more...
from #Bangladesh #News aka Bangladesh News Now!!!

3 Reasons Android and IoT Partner Well Together

Android is the Preferred Operating System in IoT

 

Android is a Major, Driving Force in the IoT Industry

 

IoT is defined as the interconnectedness of different smart devices over the internet. Recent years have seen a major uptake in IoT developments. With features like sensors and internet connectivity, these devices are capable of receiving, gathering, and transmitting information. With increasing popularity in the marketplace, IoT continues to see many developments – and it seems Android is the MVP within the industry. To keep up with demand, developers work towards increased connectivity of electronic devices in homes and offices. Convenience reigns supreme, as the power to easily control your refrigerator, treadmill, smart TV or thermostat from your smartphone is a hot commodity.

 

Yet, IoT exists as a result of the availability of a central platform on which these devices can operate. Enter: Android. But, why has Android become the major driving force behind IoT? According to IoT market trends, most smart devices run on Google’s operating system, Android. Most people are familiar with smartphones, and subsequently familiar with the Android operating system. It is currently the world’s leading mobile device operating system edging out iOS. As of 2013, Android smart phones had outsold Apple’s iPhones 4 to 1.

 

Smartphones were only the beginning. The expanding demand for interconnected devices and Android is leading the charge as tech companies battle for the top. As such, the world of IoT is seemingly being curated specifically for Android.  Outlined below are three reasons why Android is at the forefront of IoT:

 

1. Android is a universal front end from which developers can work

Android has risen quickly as a software platform mostly because Google (the company behind it) chose to give it away to developers and device makers. The Linux-based software is open source, therefore allowing just about anyone to use its source code and therefore customize it for use in just about any gadget they can imagine. The number of devices that rely on Android as an operating system today are numerous. With such a large number of devices run on Android it is easy to see how Android acts as a front end for IoT. It is easy and cheap to develop devices for IoT making them even more affordable for consumers.

 

2. Apps drive IoT

A gadget is just a gadget. However, with the right app to and software to help it run and perform different tasks, it becomes much more. Apps are what make it possible to use IoT devices. Android is currently the world’s largest app platform. As of December 2016, Google Playstore was reported to host more than 2.6 million apps. It is not surprising that Android drives the IoT movement.

 

3. IoT is being built on Java

Many IoT devices are being built on Java. It therefore makes sense that Android is driving the IOT market. Android allows for Java to be applied in a way that makes sense as opposed to the use of embedded JAVA which requires dedicated devices.

 

To understand the application of Android in IoT, we must understand the IoT ecosystem and Android’s role in it. The following facets represent the composition of the Android IoT Ecosystem

 

→ The sensor

Sensors detect physical properties such as temperature and generate digital signals. Many hardware vendors rely on specific domains such as Linux, Android and Windows. The popularity and availability of Android makes it an easy winner in this area. The fact that Android is open source and can be tweaked for use in any device makes it a popular choice for device makers.

 

→ Data Transfer

There must be a component that supports the transfer of data from the sensor. The two simplest options available for this are MQTT and XMPP. Android supports both of these open source implementations. The libraries can be used on Windows, Linux and Android.

 

→ Device

There must a device or processor with an operating system that supports the components of the IoT ecosystem. This ought to be a small and portable device that doesn’t consume too much power but can provide continuous connectivity. In many cases, inexpensive Android devices are chosen for this. Android devices meet the requirements to support a wide variety of sensors. There are also various tutorials available to assist developers.

 

→ Program

There must be a program that receives the data and stores it. This could take the form a standard Linux Server. This server receives the data, decodes it and processes it. The data can be used for subsequent analysis. There is no doubt that Android is the major driving force behind IoT devices.

 

 

The post 3 Reasons Android and IoT Partner Well Together appeared first on Software Development & IT Staffing Company.

Click here for more...
from #Bangladesh #News aka Bangladesh News Now!!!

AI in 2020: What Can We Expect?

3 Ways Artificial Intelligence will Impact the Economy in 2020 and Beyond

 

1) Increasing efficiency and accuracy in our everyday work.

 

It’s tempting to believe that artificial intelligence can do just about anything. If tech experts are to be believed, artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform the world. Tech entrepreneur, Elon Musk, says this would be a threat to humanity and life as we know it.

 

Even though thinking among AI researchers has evolved over the years, the future impact of AI is strongly debated among experts.

 

Currently, AI and machine learning power self-driving cars, complex ad-tech audience optimization, and a host of intelligent agents such as Alexa, Cortana and Siri. At the same time, leading AI experts, business owners, and analysts caution against an overly rosy view of its current capabilities.

 

The hype surrounding AI’s potential has misled many into overlooking its current utility. Eventually, AI will redefine industries and build technologies we never thought possible. However, business leaders and AI experts say the real value in today’s AI lies in increasing efficiency and accuracy in our everyday work.

 

2) Preparing for The Future – The Government’s Role

 

AI holds the potential to be a major driver of economic growth and social progress. If industries, society, government, and the public work together to support development of this technology with thoughtful attention to its potential and managing its risks, then everyone will benefit.

 

The U.S. government has several roles to play. Participation in conversations about important issues is key; this is to help set the agenda for public debate. In fact, this initiate can monitor the safety and fairness of applications as they develop, and adapt regulatory frameworks to encourage innovation while protecting the public.

 

Another utility the government can provide is public policy tools to ensure that disruption in the methods of work enabled by AI increases productivity while avoiding negative economic consequences for certain sectors of the workforce. Not only this, but the government can support basic research and the application of AI to public good. One of those features is to support development of a skilled, diverse workforce.

 

Government can apply AI to serve the public faster, more effectively, and at a lower cost. Many areas of public policy, from education, to defense, to environmental preservation, and criminal justice, will see new opportunities and new challenges driven by the continued progress of AI.

 

To enable these policies, it’s crucial for the U.S. government to understand and adapt to these changes.

 

3) Economic and Social Morality 

 

As the technology of AI continues to develop, practitioners must ensure that AI-enabled systems are governable. This is to ensure they are open, transparent, and understandable. In essence, AI must work effectively with people, so that their operation will remain consistent with human values and aspirations.

 

Researchers and practitioners have increased their attention to these challenges, and should continue to focus on them.

 

Developing and studying machine intelligence can help us better understand and appreciate our human intelligence. Used thoughtfully, AI can augment our intelligence and help us to chart a better and wiser path.

 

Charter Global offers AI resources to a variety of different types of projects. Consult us for expert help, and learn more about what we can do to achieve your AI goals.

The post AI in 2020: What Can We Expect? appeared first on Software Development & IT Staffing Company.

Click here for more...
from #Bangladesh #News aka Bangladesh News Now!!!

Don’t Leave These 4 Things Out of Your Application Development Strategy

Prioritize These 4 Features in Your Application Development Process

 

Mobile device usage has seen incredible growth in the past decade. As such, software development has seen a huge impact on the amount of technology geared towards the mobile market.

 

More shoppers have been using their mobile phones and tablets for the sake of convenience. As a result, businesses are developing apps or optimizing web design specifically for mobile users.

 

Having apps and mobile-friendly web design helps maximize potential sales and growth. Here are the essential features a mobile app should include.
 

1. Security

 

Identity theft and financial hacks are becoming common.  For preventative purposes, it is important to make sure that an app is secure and protected against these threats. Many apps require credit card information, especially when an e-commerce function is integrated.

 

Businesses should always ensure that their clients are protected.  They should be transparent on how the client data are being used in the app. The policies and practices should be clearly outlined before users are being asked to provide personal information. In this way, the users will trust the company, and will feel that the business has credibility. Users providing their financial information online shows their trust in the app and will likely use it more.
 

2. Ease of Navigation

 
Poor design is one of the main reasons why an app is deleted. Most users consider the overall usability and user-friendly design as key functions of a great app.
 
A mobile device does not have a keyboard nor a mouse, so typing should be minimized when designing an app. Users also favor having to scroll instead of clicking. Scrolling feels natural and shows more content quickly because there is no need to wait for pages to load. Imagine having to click through 5 pages of a top 10 list instead of just scrolling through it on a single page.
 

3. Social Media Integration

 

In 2017, it was reported that there are over 3 billion active social media users globally.  That being said, social media has an extensive influence in our lives, including the way we do business.  More than being a platform to share photos and status updates, social media has transformed into an essential tool for businesses to reach their customers.
 
Integrating social media in mobile apps offers expanded brand awareness. Users can share posts about the business, thus reaching more people. Social media integration brings increased visibility and recognition to potential customers or users of the app.
 

4. User Feedback

 
Having the ability to provide feedback gives users the satisfaction that they are being heard. This also lessens the need for the them to call or email the support team. It will help the business by having an understanding to what the users want, the things that need to be changed, or the things the users want to see in the app. It is imperative that businesses constantly improve their apps to provide value to their clients.
 

The post Don’t Leave These 4 Things Out of Your Application Development Strategy appeared first on Software Development & IT Staffing Company.

Click here for more...
from #Bangladesh #News aka Bangladesh News Now!!!

Five Ways to Own Recruitment in 2020

Five Reasons Professional IT Recruitment Helps Save Time, Resources, and Secure the Right Fit 

 

You may be asking yourself, “Why should my company use a professional services agency for staffing?” The answer may surprise you. The fact of the matter is, there is undeniable value in using a professional services agency over-performing those same duties in-house for many reasons. For many reasons, staff augmentation and on-boarding new hires is not a DIY (“Do it Yourself”) commodity – especially for jobs marketed within the information technology sector. 

 

The first reason companies choose to use a professional services agency as a business partner is time savings. When a job is posted, companies may receive over 200 responses, or they may receive nothing. Sorting through a stack of resumes is time-consuming and costly to the organization because the person designated to do that is abandoning their normal duties. Advertising positions, doing reference checks, background checks, drug tests and interviewing eat up time and resources. What’s more, weeding through job candidates is a laborious, massive undertaking – primarily because of a certain demand for specific skillsets when it comes to IT recruiting. 

 

Recruiting and hiring are two different things. As the tech industry continues to see exponential growth, the ability to select the right candidate for the right role both quickly and efficiently can become problematic. Hiring managers can lack the foresight and expertise that recruiting firms and recruiting experts maintain. Enter: the second reason substantiating the need for IT recruitment: Expertise. Staffing is a huge part of many professional service agencies. At Charter Global, for example, 100% of our senior level recruiting focus is spent recruiting and placing employees. With 20 + years of experience in the staffing and recruiting arena, we know how to structure job descriptions and postings that get the results our customers want.

 

The third reason is screening techniques. Since our entire focus is finding the right candidates for each position we are entrusted with, we know screening the applicants is the key to success. Skills testing modules, interviewing techniques, employment reference checks and knowing our customer’s company culture are all critical to the process.  Yet this is just a small portion of a well-defined recruitment strategy our information technology recruiters employ. We have resources available to us that most companies do not guarantee placing top talent in the right roles.

 

The fourth reason companies come to a professional services agency is for their expertise in project-based work, on/offshore resources, contract assignments, and permanent placement services. Technology leaders know their budgets aren’t to be taken lightly. For example, there are some tasks that that don’t justify hiring an entire team for a 6 – 9-month project. Those are times when you need our expertise in on/offshore project-based professional services to save you time and money.

 

Customers are looking for a “True Business Partner” when it comes to their professional services provider, and our clients have found that a partnership with Charter Global consistently delivers great returns on their investment. The fifth reason for professional IT recruitment involves an important factor: reputation. Precautionary measures are instilled with every candidate selected by a professional services agency, which otherwise might get overlooked. Our recruiters work tirelessly to ensure the right candidates, equipped with the right soft skills and technical skillets, are placed into the right positions. 

 

If you are considering a partnership with a professional services agency, contact one of Charter Global’s Client Engagement Managers. We would be happy to speak with you about the right services for your company.
 

The post Five Ways to Own Recruitment in 2020 appeared first on Software Development & IT Staffing Company.

Click here for more...
from #Bangladesh #News aka Bangladesh News Now!!!