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Hello dark mode, my old friend<\/h2>\n
Okay, dark mode has existed since the early 2010s, but it did not gain much traction until the mid-2010s. Nowadays, it is common for apps have a dedicated light\/dark mode toggle\u2014and now that big players like Google, Samsung, Facebook, and Apple have consistently implemented dark mode into their apps and sites, it is more or less an industry standard.<\/p>\n
Dark mode saves device battery power on OLED\/AMOLED screens<\/a> as it doesn’t require a backlight<\/a>. Dark pixels save power as OLED screens use black backdrops as the default and “turns on” pixels to add color and brightness. With OLED displays becoming more common (the iPhone X, XS, and XS max come with it, as do many Samsung devices<\/a>), dark mode’s perks are becoming more noticeable.<\/p>\n From a design perspective, dark mode can be leveraged by brands for its sleek, modern aesthetic. For instance, colors pop more when they are set against a darker background. But this isn’t simply a case of vibrant designs; there are UX considerations, too.<\/p>\n When designing for dark mode, pay close attention to typography. Although claims that dark mode reduces eye strain<\/a> are debated, research suggests that dark text on a light background is more legible<\/a> regardless of age group\u2014and there might be some truth to the claim that dark mode is better for evening browsing<\/a> as it reduces the level of blue light. Either way, expect dark mode to proliferate this year.<\/li>\n The widespread adoption of smart home devices such as Nest, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Siri is showing no signs of slowing. By 2023, in fact, the smart home market\u2014constituting the sales of networked devices and related services\u2014is forecast to be worth more than \u00a3<\/span>103 billion<\/a>.<\/p>\n Other eye-popping statistics include:<\/p>\n As far as marketers are concerned, new and different user interfaces (UI) are needed for voice commands, incorporating not only phones and computers but also car HUDs and smart appliances.<\/p>\n Therein lies the challenge, with voice user interfaces (VUI) coming with their own unique user flows and pain points. For example, unintuitive onboarding and setup can be a strong deterrent for those unfamiliar with voice commands. Until VUI patterns become more commonplace, designers need to lead and teach users how to navigate through a relatively new world.<\/li>\n![\"Apple](\"\/wpe-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/dark-mode.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHey Google, what’s “VUI”?<\/h2>\n
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