New m-Power interface makes web application development responsive, more intuitive

December 2013 · Oak Brook, IL

Today, software tool developer mrc announces the release of a brand new m-Power user interface. m-Power is software that rapidly creates web applications such as report-writing, business intelligence, executive dashboards, e-commerce, customer portals, and mobile applications to name a few.

mrc redesigned m-Power's interface from the ground up to keep pace with the rapid evolution of web application development. Driven largely by the rise of mobile devices, new trends have emerged that will forever change the world of web application development software. Two of the most important of these changes include:

• There is no "typical" user: In the past, software developers designed their interfaces around the idea of a typical user, someone working on a PC or laptop and using one of a few web browsers. With the rise of mobile devices, the idea of a "typical" user has vanished. These days, users can access web applications on a variety of devices (PCs, tablets, and smartphones) using many different browsers. Modern web applications must adapt to this new reality.
• Users expect simplicity: With the rise of mobile apps, user expectations have changed. Users now expect simple, intuitive interfaces and are more likely to abandon an application if they find it confusing or unclear. Modern web applications must become simpler and more intuitive to keep pace with user expectations.

In response to these trends, mrc rebuilt m-Power's interface with an emphasis on two critical areas:

Responsive design

m-Power's new interface is responsive, meaning that it automatically recognizes and adapts to the user's device. It understands when a user accesses m-Power on a smartphone or tablet, and adjusts the layout for optimal usability. Figure 1a and Figure 1b illustrate the differences between m-Power's interface on different devices:

Ease of use

Designed with simplicity in mind, m-Power's new interface further simplifies web application development without sacrificing any of m-Power's capabilities. Besides a cleaner look and feel, m-Power's new interface offers a number of new features to promote ease of use, such as:

Guided build-process: m-Power's build process now includes a step-by-step navigation bar that guides users through the entire build process. It understands the user's progress in the build process, and enables or disables options accordingly. Figure 2 illustrates one of the build process screens found in the new interface, complete with the step-by-step guided navigation.

Slide-up help on every page: To help users avoid confusion, m-Power's new interface includes a slide-up help box that delivers FAQs and additional information specific to each page. Rather than simply directing users to a broad support area, mrc created a custom help section for every screen in m-Power.

On-screen tour: When users first access the new m-Power interface, they are greeted with an on-screen m-Power tour. As illustrated in Figure 3, the new tour introduces the user to m-Power, and guides them through a sample build process.

"Users now expect software that works on any device and is instantly understandable," says Tyler Wassell, mrc's Manager of Software Development. "Rebuilding the interface addresses these two realities perfectly: It gives users a completely intuitive interface and positions m-Power for the new, mobile-focused world of the future."

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