Splunk / tvOS & Android TV

PROBLEMS WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE

Splunk is investing heavily in mobile in FY19 and we are redefining our mobile strategy to align with the needs of our Splunk Enterprise customers. We want to increase Splunk usage by allowing these customers to access the product on multiple devices, including phones, tablets and TVs, not just PCs.

Provides Splunk Enterprise customers a more secure, cost effective and scalable way to display dashboards on TVs.

BUSINESS VALUE

Our target customers are Splunk Enterprise users in SOCs and NOCs that display Splunk dashboards on TVs today but want a more secure, cheaper and scalable solution. In particular, customers in the finance and education sectors have expressed interest in our solution. (This app will not be compatible with previous versions of Splunk Enterprise due to auth limitations.)

rolE

UX/UI Design Lead

WHAT IS A GOOD DESIGN OUT THERE?

I was looking into how other TV apps approached their structures. Notably, TVOS exhibited robust patterns, while Android TV lacked consistent standards. Apps within the Apple ecosystem showcased well-defined and structured designs. However, this clarity wasn't consistently mirrored in non-Apple apps, particularly on Android TV, which currently embraces a more open approach. A key takeaway from this research is the importance of accommodating TV usability challenges, such as remote typing difficulties. Quick filters and instant results during searches or typing emerged as essential elements to enhance the user experience on TV interfaces. These insights contribute to a more user-friendly and effective design for TV applications.

same experience on both tvos & android tv.

Ensuring a consistent experience across both tvOS and Android TV is a priority. Users should encounter a seamless interface, allowing them to perform the same actions and access identical information effortlessly. While recognizing the superiority of certain native features like keyboard functionality, focus, and selection, leveraging these native strengths ensures easier maintenance and updates, contributing to a unified and user-friendly experience across both platforms.

UX / WORKFLOW

I aimed to create a mapping to identify components that could offer a consistent user experience across both tvOS and Android TV. The overarching structure remains uniform, ensuring a familiar journey for users. However, certain components, such as the app store screen, keyboard, focus, and selection, will retain their native experiences. For instance, the keyboard layout discrepancy between tvOS and Android TV, where tvOS displays the alphabet in 1-2 lines and Android shows the entire keyboard, is maintained intentionally. This decision is driven by the understanding that preserving native experiences in such cases not only aligns with user expectations but also simplifies the process of maintenance and future updates.

UI / VISUAL DESIGN

I was focusing on refining the user journey. To facilitate collaboration and streamline the development process, I introduced a components sheet page where engineers can readily access the latest components that were updated or added during this phase. Regular reviews with both engineers and project managers allowed for iterative feedback, ensuring that the design evolved in alignment with the development progress. This collaborative approach aimed to create a comprehensive and polished UI that seamlessly translates into a refined

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK at the home tab

I chose a left navigation setup because it's easy to scale and doesn't cover content. Users can expand or collapse it to see more or less on the right. Working with engineers, I learned platform differences like the 3D effect for focus mode on tvOS only. Android has a full keyboard, not just an alphabet like tvOS. Colorful chiclets show how many TVs display a dashboard, adding a nice touch. I also collaborated with another designer for illustrations in empty and error stages.

dashboard screen

It is designed to cater to varying needs. Users can create dashboards with multiple panels or choose to have just one. This is the go-to space for users to gather and view all the information they need at a glance. It's a centralized hub for a comprehensive overview tailored to individual preferences.

tvos

Above are some of the differences on the tvOS side, like keyboard and search experience.

android tv

Above are some of the differences on the Android TV side, like keyboard and search experience.