Key Technologies

I’ve identified four key technologies that you need to be aware of as a designer. These can be broken down and grouped into two basic categories, the first being Apple technologies which support native rendering within iOS, and the second being OpenGL, a third-party technology that supports low-level GPU usage. The best way to think about this from a design standpoint is to associate native rending with the presentation of classic user interface widgets as they are commonly understood. Associate OpenGL with high-performance graphics rendering for the kinds of animation and interaction that you might see in a gaming context.

The important thing to note is that these technologies do not have to be exclusively applied to the original contexts for which they were intended. By understanding the nature of each of these technologies you can understand how the experience you are designing can be best brought to life. This will become increasingly important as you begin to think through the details of unique interaction mechanics as they may be applied to your application. When you know what each of these technologies enables, you will see just how powerful iOS is and the unlimited possibilities iOS gives you as a designer.