Core77 Design Awards

  • Winners
  • Categories
  • Jury
  • Covestro
  • About
  • Other Years
    • 2019 Awards
    • 2017 Awards
    • 2016 Awards
    • 2015 Awards
    • 2014 Awards
    • 2013 Awards
    • 2012 Awards
    • 2011 Awards
  • Sign up / Login;

Notable

Interaction Award

Core77 Design Awards 2018

Results Announced for Community Choice Prize See All Winners

TrapOS

TrapOS is a productivity and performance driven mobile operating system designed for simplicity and ease of use across cultural and physical boundaries. It is intended to be a truly universal global interface where users of all abilities and locales can have the same high-quality experience.

ABOUT

TrapOS is a productivity and performance driven mobile operating system designed for simplicity and ease of use across cultural and physical boundaries. It is intended to be a universal global interface where users of all abilities and locales share the same high-quality experience.

INSPIRATION

When phones have an extremely low battery level, they can go into what is called Battery Trap Mode. This auxiliary mode can only support rudimentary operations with very low processing and power needs.

The goal was to create a complete operating system that could run entirely in Battery Trap Mode; hence the name TrapOS.

Though we may never achieve a fully functional OS in such extreme conditions, the pursuit is noble. There is always a premium on performance and battery life.

Gains in performance and battery life can improve existing devices as well as resurrecting devices that were once obsolete. Product life cycles are extended and older devices are relevant again – potentially having a positive environmental impact.

This could also lower the entry price point for smartphone ownership, putting technology in economies where it was once out of reach.

NO BRANDING, NO BIAS

We realized very early that creating a universal operating system would require us to remove any branding and other potential biases.

Luckily, most branding was removed in our text-only system –omitting any branding via app icon artwork.

Roboto Monospace was our chosen. Roboto because it is readily available on most Android devices Monospace was critical because all characters are equally spaced. This removes any spatial bias between characters – ensuring that any offenses or misinterpretations are merely coincidental.

TEXT AS TECHNOLOGY

Many people don't consider text as technology but there are many benefits to using a text only system. Here are a few to consider:

1. Text on a black background has far fewer illuminated pixels and much lower power consumption.

2. Rendering text takes less processing power than graphics. As a result, TrapOS has better performance and increased stability.

3. White text on black has the highest contrast ratio possible. This maximizes legibility for all users.

4. Apps are ordered alphabetically. This method of organization is used by many cultures and has withstood the test of time.

5. Text scales uniformly with no customization to base Android. Its supports users of all visual needs.

6. Localization is standard on all text in Android, making translation effortless.

ARCHITECTURE

By switching to a text-only system, we realized that we had an opportunity to simplify the architecture of the apps as well. Currently, smartphones use an arbitrary system or a most-frequently-used model. We felt like a single alphabetized list was the most simple, intuitive, and democratic strategy.

PROTOTYPE

As a prototype, we explored removing all graphic elements including system navigation and status bar iconography. This proved to be problematic because controls, percentages, and fractions do not translate into text elegantly. We realized that if we retreated a bit from this hardline text-only stance that it would actually be more intuitive and reduce cognitive load.

RESOLUTION

The use of a single alphabetized list for apps with system iconography for status and navigation proved to be the most elegant compromise for text and graphic delineation.

UNEXPECTED RESULT

An unexpected result of TrapOS is that users are required to be more deliberate in their actions – freeing them of visual traps and improving digital health. This is a delightful revelation in the face of cognitive hijacking and unwanted digital addiction.

POTENTIAL MARKETS

People who prefer simplicity - Kids who are addicted to their phones - Adults who worry about digital health - Software engineers who like text UIs - People who are productivity driven - Anyone who need increased legibility - People who use many languages - People who are not tech savvy - Work devices, not social devices - Low cost devices


Share This
  • Y1
  • m1
  • H1
Results Announced for Community Choice Prize See All Winners

Core77 Design Awards 2018 Presented By:

Covestro Logo
  • Honoree

    Hoan Pham

  • Client

    Public Use

  • Project Team

    Hoan Pham - Designer

    Dela Tsiagbe - Engineer

  • Category

    Interaction

  • View More Information
    x Website
    ` PDF

Core77 Design Awards 2018

  • Built Environment
  • Commercial Equipment
  • Consumer Product
  • Design Concept
  • Design Education Initiative
  • Design for Social Impact
  • Furniture & Lighting
  • Interaction
  • Open Design
  • Packaging
  • Service Design
  • Strategy & Research
  • Transportation
  • Visual Communication

K

{

Welcome

  • YSign In with Facebook
  • mSign In with Twitter
  • USign In with Linkedin
OR
  • jSign In with Core77 Account
  1. Forgot password?
  • Cancel

Don't have an account? Join Now

K

{

Welcome

Create a Core77 Account

  • YJoin Now with Facebook
  • mJoin Now with Twitter
  • UJoin Now with Linkedin
OR
  • jJoin Now with Email
  • Cancel

Already have an account? Sign In

By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use

K

Reset Password

Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.

  • Cancel
  • © 2022 Core77, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • About
  • )
  • m
  • Y
  • '
  • S
  • © 2022 Core77, Inc. All rights reserved.