OMG Roofing Revamps Popular Fastening Device
OMG Inc. teamed with Integrated Computer Solutions’ (ICS) design studio Boston UX to create a modern touchscreen and enhanced user experience for its market-leading RhinoBond Advanced Membrane Attachment System.
New UI Makes Roofing Easier and More Efficient
Electromagnetic induction welding is increasingly the technology of choice for commercial roofing contractors, in part because it can reduce labor by as much as 20% by requiring fewer fasteners. Plus, it solves many problems associated with traditional, mechanically attached roof systems, such as wind-induced sheet flutter.
OMG Roofing’s RhinoBond Advanced Membrane Attachment System is built on this technology. Though they’ve had great success with this product, which typically uses 25% to 50% fewer fasteners than traditional mechanical methods, the company was ready to take things up a notch. They asked Boston UX for help enhancing the RhinoBond’s user experience to make the device easier to use by roofers. And that meant incorporating a touchscreen that featured a modern interface.
The Challenge
The challenges were many. OMG’s product is used under harsh, direct sunlight on roofs that may seem as bright as a glacier, making it very difficult for a contractor to read the controls. And workers use the RhinoBond while standing so the screen has to be readable from a distance, not just up close like with a cell phone.
That meant Boston UX had to focus squarely on readability. They also had to cope with the fact that roofers often wear heavy work gloves while operating the RhinoBond device, making the use of a traditional touchscreen problematic. Compounding the challenge was the need for internationalization. Boston UX had to create screens and icons appropriate for users in global markets, including the U.S., China, Germany and the Netherlands.
The Solution
OMG selected a resistive touchscreen to replace the device’s original LCD screen and membrane buttons. This type of touchscreen works well in the elements, and easily accommodates use with gloves -- something difficult with the more widely used capacitive touchscreens found on smartphones and kiosks.
Unfortunately, the resistive technology limits the gestures that can be used to control the screen. Calling on a legacy of innovation, Boston UX created a powerful user experience that required primarily tapping motions to manipulate content, not swipe or zoom.
To address the issue of extreme brightness on the roofs, which can render a screen essentially useless, Boston UX methodically tested and then carefully selected colors that would read well under such adverse conditions.
Boston UX further addressed readability by exhaustively researching typefaces, selecting a clean, angular font set that could be easily read from a distance of around two feet and supported all the scripts and characters in the languages relevant to this project. The team also designed original icons that translated well across Dutch, English, German, Standard Chinese and Spanish.
The Result
The project was completed on an accelerated time frame, and considered a huge win by both OMG and Boston UX. The secret to success on this project was understanding the context of the usage by watching workers actually use the RhinoBond, and exploring in depth what they want and need from the device. This insight allowed Boston UX to create powerful screen designs that supported an engaging and intuitive interface.
“The revamped RhinoBond device is far easier to use. The Boston UX team did a fantastic job understanding the needs of our users and designing an interface to maximize the usability of our device. Thank you for the great work.”