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<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:Mediacenter5536.png|220px|thumb|The 10-foot user interface of [[Microsoft]]'s [[Windows Media Center|Media Center]] application.]] -->
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:Front Row Screenshot.png|220px|thumb|The 10-foot user interface of [[Apple Computer|Apple]]'s [[Front Row]] application.]] -->
[[Image:LinuxMCEUI2B.jpg|thumb|300px|right|LinuxMCE user interface]]
A '''10-foot user interface''' is a software [[graphical user interface|GUI (Graphical User Interface)]], (sometime also referred to as the "''10-foot experience''"), designed for display on a [[television]] (or similar sized large screen), with interaction using a regular television-style [[remote control]].


"10 foot" refers to the fact that the GUI interface's elements&mdash;i.e. menus, buttons, text [[fonts]], and so on&mdash;are theoretically large enough to easily read at a distance of 10 [[Foot (length)|feet]] (approximately 3 metres) from the display., (which in this context is normally a [[television]]). To avoid distractions and to be clearer, 10 foot UIs also tend to be very simple and usually only have the core buttons that are required.
In computing a '''10-foot user interface''' (also sometimes referred to as "'''10-foot UI'''", "'''10-foot interface'''", or "'''10-foot experience'''") is a software GUI (graphical user interface) designed for display on a large television (or similar sized screen) with interaction using a regular television-style remote control.


Typical examples of 10-foot user interfaces are [[media center]] software applications such as [[Front Row]], [[LinuxMCE]], [[Windows Media Center]] and [[XBMC Media Center]] interfaces.
"10 foot" refers to the fact that the GUI's elements—i.e. menus, buttons, text fonts, and so on—are theoretically large enough to read easily at a distance of ten feet from the display (which in this context is normally a large-screen television). To avoid distractions and to be more clear, 10 foot UIs also tend to be very simple and usually only have the minimum core buttons.


==Overview==
Typical examples of popular 10-foot user interfaces are HTPC (Home theater PC) media center software applications such as Google TV, MediaPortal, XBMC, Plex, Boxee, Windows Media Center and Front Row / Apple TV interfaces, but most other Smart TV and set-top boxes devices and software with interactive television interfaces also belong in this category.
[[Image:10footUI.png|thumb|300px|right|Common setting for the 10-foot user interface is a [[home theater]] or [[living room]] with [[surround sound]] speaker setup. The distance between viewer and TV varies, but is typically 10-feet with a 32" or larger display.]]
The "10 foot" is used to differentiate it from a desktop computer screen that is typically less than two feet from the viewer's eyes. Designed to be used by a handheld remote control, the 10-foot user interface has extra large buttons and menu text that are easily navigated.


This difference in distance has a huge impact on the interface design compared to typical [[desktop computer]] interaction when the user us sitting at a desk with a [[computer monitor]], and using a [[computer mouse|mouse]] and [[computer keyboard|keyboard]] (or perhaps a [[joystick]] device for [[computer games]]) which is sometimes referred to as a "''[[2-foot user interface]]''".
== Overview ==
[[File:10footUI.png|thumb|300px|right|Common setting for the 10-foot user interface is a home theater or living room with surround sound speaker setup. The distance between viewer and TV varies, but is typically 10-feet with a 32" or larger big-screen television display.]]
"Ten foot" is used to differentiate the GUI style from those used on desktop computer screens, which typically assume the user's eyes are less than two feet (60&nbsp;cm) from the display. The 10-foot GUI is almost always designed to be operated by a hand-held remote control. The 10-foot user interface has extra large buttons with menu fonts that are easily read and navigated.


==Common 10-foot user interface design guidelines==
This difference in distance has a huge impact on the interface design compared to typical desktop computer interaction when the user is sitting at a desk with a computer monitor, and using a mouse and keyboard which is sometimes referred to as a "''2-foot user interface''".
Here are a few design guidelines which should be considered when designing a 10-foot user interface compared to a [[2-foot user interface]].
* '''Installation''' - The 10-foot experience places the display across the room from the user, and therefore anything that requires the user to physically interact with the interface forces the user to get up and cross the room.


* '''User input''' - Support for a standard remote, which is the generally preferred input device. Make certain the user can control the menus via the primary game input device.
== Common design guidelines ==
Here are a few design guidelines which should be considered when designing a 10-foot user interface compared to a 2-foot user interface.
* '''User input and Navigation''' - Support for a standard remote, which is the generally preferred input device for a 10-foot GUI.
* '''Display and Design''' - Regardless of the video output device, at a range of 10 feet it is very important that all fonts and UI graphics are large enough for comfortable readability (anti-aliased fonts will generally offer better readability). Check size of all UI elements, avoid single-pixel thick horizontal lines or static UI elements with single-pixel detail as older televisions and low-resolution displays may simply not display such fine detail, and content will flicker if running on an interlaced display mode since a single row of pixels will be visible only half the time.
* '''Installation and Miscellaneous''' - The 10-foot experience places the display across the room from the user, and therefore anything that requires the user to physically interact with the interface and forces the user to get up and cross the room should be avoided.


* '''Display''' - Regardless of what the video output device is, at a range of 10 feet it's important that fonts and UI graphics are sized large enough for comfortable readability, (also note that [[antialiased]] [[fonts]] will generally offer better readability.
== Links ==
 
* Wikipedia article on 10-foot user interface: [[wikipedia:10-foot user interface]]
* '''Size of UI elements'' - Avoid single-pixel thick horizontal lines or static UI elements with single-pixel detail as older televisions may simply not display fine detail, and even on the latest displays content will flicker when running on an [[interlaced]] display mode since a single row of pixels will be visible only half the time.
* Wikipedia article on Human-Machine Interface: [[wikipedia:Human-Machine Interface]]
 
* Wikipedia article on User interface engineering: [[wikipedia:User interface engineering]]
==See also==
* Wikipedia article on User experience design: [[wikipedia:User experience design]]
* [[Graphical user interface]]
* Wikipedia article on Industrial design: [[wikipedia:Industrial design]]
*[[Post-WIMP]] and [[WIMP (computing)|WIMP]] (WIMP stands for "window, icon, menu, pointing device")
* Wikipedia article on Interactive television: [[wikipedia:Interactive television]]
*[[Skin (computing)|Skin]]
* Wikipedia article on Smart TV: [[wikipedia:Smart TV]]
*[[User interface engineering]]
*[[Human-Machine Interface]]
*[[Live user interface]]
*[[Look and feel]]
*[[Object-oriented user interface]]
*[[Organic User Interface]]
*[[Usability]]
*[[Ergonomics]]
*[[Model-view-controller]]
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
==External links==
*[http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=10-foot+UI&i=36892,00.asp 10-foot user interface definition-PC World]
*[http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/10-foot+user+interface "10-foot user interface" definition according to The Free Dictionary by Farlex]
*[http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb174608.aspx Introduction and interface design guidelines to the 10-Foot Experience for Windows Game Developers (by Jon Steed, Software Design Engineer at Microsoft)]
 
{{GUI widgets}}
{{Window Managers}}
 
[[Category:User interface]]
[[Category:Graphical user interface]]
[[Category:Software architecture]]
 
 
{{tech-stub}}

Latest revision as of 20:14, 7 December 2020

In computing a 10-foot user interface (also sometimes referred to as "10-foot UI", "10-foot interface", or "10-foot experience") is a software GUI (graphical user interface) designed for display on a large television (or similar sized screen) with interaction using a regular television-style remote control.

"10 foot" refers to the fact that the GUI's elements—i.e. menus, buttons, text fonts, and so on—are theoretically large enough to read easily at a distance of ten feet from the display (which in this context is normally a large-screen television). To avoid distractions and to be more clear, 10 foot UIs also tend to be very simple and usually only have the minimum core buttons.

Typical examples of popular 10-foot user interfaces are HTPC (Home theater PC) media center software applications such as Google TV, MediaPortal, XBMC, Plex, Boxee, Windows Media Center and Front Row / Apple TV interfaces, but most other Smart TV and set-top boxes devices and software with interactive television interfaces also belong in this category.

Overview

Common setting for the 10-foot user interface is a home theater or living room with surround sound speaker setup. The distance between viewer and TV varies, but is typically 10-feet with a 32" or larger big-screen television display.

"Ten foot" is used to differentiate the GUI style from those used on desktop computer screens, which typically assume the user's eyes are less than two feet (60 cm) from the display. The 10-foot GUI is almost always designed to be operated by a hand-held remote control. The 10-foot user interface has extra large buttons with menu fonts that are easily read and navigated.

This difference in distance has a huge impact on the interface design compared to typical desktop computer interaction when the user is sitting at a desk with a computer monitor, and using a mouse and keyboard which is sometimes referred to as a "2-foot user interface".

Common design guidelines

Here are a few design guidelines which should be considered when designing a 10-foot user interface compared to a 2-foot user interface.

  • User input and Navigation - Support for a standard remote, which is the generally preferred input device for a 10-foot GUI.
  • Display and Design - Regardless of the video output device, at a range of 10 feet it is very important that all fonts and UI graphics are large enough for comfortable readability (anti-aliased fonts will generally offer better readability). Check size of all UI elements, avoid single-pixel thick horizontal lines or static UI elements with single-pixel detail as older televisions and low-resolution displays may simply not display such fine detail, and content will flicker if running on an interlaced display mode since a single row of pixels will be visible only half the time.
  • Installation and Miscellaneous - The 10-foot experience places the display across the room from the user, and therefore anything that requires the user to physically interact with the interface and forces the user to get up and cross the room should be avoided.

Links