ABSTRACT
Interfaces for small devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and watches, require a more personal connection between the interface and the user. There are millions of such apps, with more every day because of user demand. Apps are children's e-books, social media, tools, games, and more. Several platforms allow building apps, each of which has guidelines that interface designers and developers must analyze very carefully. Every platform is a whole new challenge, with limitations and standards to understand. Part of the Reach Higher initiative was to guide students to take better advantage of federal support to go to secondary school. The Up Next app gives young students step-by-step information on filling out forms such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), with deadlines and much more. The app interacts with the user's text messaging to create a FAFSA ID, and the interface is user-friendly, with a design strategy focused on high-school students.
