One of the challenges for Android is the learning curve that comes with it. There are just too gestures, toggles and interfaces which can be intimidating for first time users. Not to mention that not all Android interfaces are the same as each manufacturer would customised their own look and feel.
To address this learning challenge, the developers at Sony are experimenting with EvolutionUI. This gamifies the discovery of new features and usability on a smart phone. There are 4 levels to choose from – Beginner, Easy, Medium and Advanced. As a fresh new user, the phone interface will be very basic with just the critical telephony, camera and web browsing capabilities. Each actions performed will be given a +XP point which goes to building up your experience level. The more you collect or tasks you accomplished, the interface will slowly evolve and reveal more functions to play with including the option to add more shortcuts, unlock additional home screen panels and etc.
This is quite an interesting concept and is much better than the typical manuals or orchestrated tutorials that are hard to follow. The beauty of it is that you can discover and unlock features at your own pace. Since this is an experiment, it may or may not appear in future Xperia devices. Obviously for experienced users, there should be an option to bypass it and to have every feature unlocked.
Check out the EvolutionUI video after the break.
