Softkeys, lock/power, volume, etc. Mostly that they need to press in or be clearly of a different shape to afford, must light up like keypads, must be labeled unambiguously and the label must light up, must be near labels which means SKs need to not be 5 feet from the screen, etc.

Problem

Solution

Outside of Keyboards & Keypads and Directional Entry controls, practically all mobile devices have numerous additional keys. Regardless of their function, all must comply with some basic behavioral standards in order to be useful, usable and valuable to the user.

Variations

There are two basic types of hardware keys, based on their effect.

Interaction Details

must have effect immediately, regardless of the type of effect.

must have an on-screen effect; even if the primary effect is something else, like a volume control, the change must be indicated and the new setting displayed briefly. Can be in annunciator, via a Pop-Up] layer which disappears after a little bit, or simply on a display layer with does not exist...

pressing keys with backlight on generally should change the key backlight

haptic or audio response also... nice to have them "click" or otherwise use response to indicate the key has been activated...

Presentation Details

unambiguously label on key... must be visible in all conditions

labels and descriptions for on-screen effects, notifiers, etc. must comply with the hardware label.

Make on-screen stuff about it adjacent to the key whenever possible; can even point to it for help or tutorials...

Antipatterns

Examples