In line with the Deutsche Telekom slogan “Life is for sharing”, IxDS invented and realized innovative mobile apps that enrich existing communication with mobile devices in meaningful ways.
“Tactful Calling”, launched in 2011, brings relief for the main dilemma with mobile phones today: The delight and burden of being available always, everywhere. How often have you received a call in an inconvenient situation, not knowing how to handle the caller and the real-life situation gracefully at the same time?
The “Tactful Calling” app solves this problem on both sides: As a caller, you can indicate the urgency of your call, as well as a time frame. By signaling a low urgency, for example, you let the other person know that it’s okay to not react immediately.
As the recipient, you can inform the caller that you’re busy and that you will call back – without the need to pick up and interrup your current activity.
The idea for “Tactful Calling” resulted from our previous research into Gender-specific communication patterns. In a design-led process, IxDS’ team of closely collaborating designers, technologists, and researchers implemented this app from start to finish.
This app and several futher concepts currently in evaluation stages open up unprecedented ways to communicate on a mobile phone, making it emotionally richer and less obtrusive. As such they are also pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible on current mobile platforms. Our intimate knowledge of technical constraints allowed us to adapt the concepts to iPhone and Android without diminishing the intended user experience.
Tactful Calling
Phone calls, the polite way
In line with the Deutsche Telekom slogan “Life is for sharing”, IxDS invented and realized innovative mobile apps that enrich existing communication with mobile devices in meaningful ways.
“Tactful Calling”, launched in 2011, brings relief for the main dilemma with mobile phones today: The delight and burden of being available always, everywhere. How often have you received a call in an inconvenient situation, not knowing how to handle the caller and the real-life situation gracefully at the same time?
The “Tactful Calling” app solves this problem on both sides: As a caller, you can indicate the urgency of your call, as well as a time frame. By signaling a low urgency, for example, you let the other person know that it’s okay to not react immediately.
As the recipient, you can inform the caller that you’re busy and that you will call back – without the need to pick up and interrup your current activity.
The idea for “Tactful Calling” resulted from our previous research into Gender-specific communication patterns. In a design-led process, IxDS’ team of closely collaborating designers, technologists, and researchers implemented this app from start to finish.
This app and several futher concepts currently in evaluation stages open up unprecedented ways to communicate on a mobile phone, making it emotionally richer and less obtrusive. As such they are also pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible on current mobile platforms. Our intimate knowledge of technical constraints allowed us to adapt the concepts to iPhone and Android without diminishing the intended user experience.
You can get the Tactul Calling app for Android at http://www.tactfulcalling.com.