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2009-03-23

Planning for Microsoft Surface

Rarely in the past has software development hit so many avenues. Microsoft Surface provides methods of reaching users previously unexplored. There's always something to be said about good project planning, but in this realm, you've got to nail down not only teh basic logic of the app, but also the visual feedback presented to the user as well as audible feedback - it doesn't make sense not to have sound employed. Introduce loads of risk into the solution if you don't have a good backup plan for just about every UI element when schedule is compressed. Showing off technologies like this requires patience and a team willing to take quick dives into feasbility and the PM knowing when success is possible or diversion if needed. There are accept states, deny states, active states, click states, hover states, drag states; there are gestures embedded within controls that require special architecture/finesse to construct.

And all of this needs to lie neatly into a package of work items with little specificity between Dev and Integration. These are good times and workflows only get better as a team gets more experienced.