During Apple’s WWDC 2015 developer conference earlier this week, Apple unveiled their next generation operating system in the form of OS X El Capitan, that will be launching later this year.
When the new El Capitan operating system launches, web developers will be able to use the already existing Force Touch trackpad Apple technology to enable visitors to engage and navigate their websites in a more unique and entertaining way. This innovative technology, which was first introduced with the Apple Watch and later incorporated into MacBooks, allows users to interact with their devices through varying levels of pressure sensitivity. This opens up a plethora of possibilities for web developers to create more dynamic and responsive web experiences.
Enhanced User Interactions
Web developers will also be able to build custom interactions allowing the experience with the Apple Force Touch technology to vary from site to site. This means that each website can offer a unique set of interactions tailored to its content and user base. For instance, a photography website could use Force Touch to allow users to press harder on an image to zoom in, while a gaming site might use it to enable different levels of control within a game. Tech Crunch explains:
“The new Force Touch tools allow devs to use that new type of input to do things like trigger animations, or even enable actions, such as favouriting or starring content in a matrix or list, for example. Behind the scenes, it works like registering a mouse click, but adds a second level.”
This second level of interaction can significantly enhance the user experience by making it more intuitive and engaging. For example, a news website could implement Force Touch to allow users to press harder on a headline to see a preview of the article, or an e-commerce site could use it to let users press harder on a product image to see more details or related items.
Current Limitations and Future Potential
Unfortunately, from launch, the new features are only expected to work with Apple’s Safari web browser. This limitation means that users who prefer other browsers like Chrome or Firefox will not be able to experience these new interactions initially. However, it’s not out of the question whether Apple will roll out the support for other browsers to adopt if they so desire. Given the competitive nature of web browsers, it is likely that other browser developers will be keen to incorporate similar features to stay on par with Safari.
Moreover, the adoption of Force Touch technology by web developers will depend on how widely the hardware is used. As more Apple devices with Force Touch become available, it is expected that more websites will start to incorporate these features. This could lead to a new standard in web design, where pressure-sensitive interactions become as common as clicks and taps.
The introduction of Force Touch technology in OS X El Capitan represents a significant step forward in web interaction design. It offers web developers a powerful new tool to create more engaging and intuitive user experiences. While there are some limitations at launch, the potential for this technology is vast, and it will be exciting to see how it evolves and is adopted in the future.
Source: Tech Crunch
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