Customer Success - Windows Embedded
Infragistics Finds Transition to Windows Embedded Simple and Rewarding
Experience with Microsoft Silverlight allows user-centered design software company to enter embedded market
Becoming conversant and competent in Microsoft® SilverlightTM for Windows® Embedded development is a natural extension for design firms with Silverlight experience. Read how one company embraced development for embedded devices so completely that it’s now sharing its experience and creating training programs for others.
A new competency for an established company
Infragistics is an established, worldwide experience design company headquartered in New Jersey. While the company has been in business for many years, the addition of Windows Embedded development is a new practice for Infragistics. “Silverlight really opened up the doors for us to take part in this growing market,” says Andrew Flick, product unit manager of NetAdvantage and line of business. “With capabilities inherent in Silverlight, we can now build a visually appealing and intuitive UI that delivers a compelling user experience. The embedded space hasn’t had space for design companies like us to participate before. Now it’s really opened up. It will revolutionize experience work.”
Adds Sara Faatz, director of partner and alliance programs: “Being able to present Windows Embedded offerings is a great opportunity. It’s a natural space for us. There are so many opportunities for us in manufacturing, health, point of sales. We can further enhance the experience our customers are able to build using our controls. Because we have an expertise in user-centered design, we’ve been doing more of that work for Windows Embedded customers.”
Acquiring skills in Windows Embedded development was a relatively rapid process for Infragistics. Says Faatz: “We’re already a Microsoft shop, so it’s a natural migration for us. We live and breathe in the Microsoft space, so Windows Embedded is a great fit.” Having core competencies in .NET, the Visual Studio® development system, and Silverlight allowed Infragistics engineers to ramp up quickly. “Really, it comes down to leveraging development technologies,” says Flick. “Developers can reuse their knowledge of the Microsoft development stack across Windows Embedded, Web, and desktop technologies. You can easily share and move around resources.”
Trial by fire—and success
The Infragistics team learned just how quickly they could get a product to market when they teamed up with another Microsoft partner and Microsoft to produce an application for a device demo at the Embedded Systems Conference in Boston in October 2009. Infragistics developed a UI using Silverlight for
a seven-inch touchpad device that would help homeowners manage digital content, such as music, videos, and pictures, across a wireless media network. When a homeowner unpacks the device, it visually prompts him or her to start synching between the device and a Windows 7–based PC.
Says Flick: “We had two weeks to build a running application for a device that our team had not yet viewed in person. We had to think about the size of people’s fingers and different form factors. Our core Silverlight experts understood the basic technology, but not intricately. We were able to build out an experience on a device we never touched in a timeframe that was incredible. And we were so successful that it was featured in a keynote at the ESC conference.”
Planning for the future
Moving from developing desktop solutions to embedded applications has been a natural progression for Infragistics. “Right now we can offer UX and UI design and consulting service,” says Faatz. “We can help customers create the UX and UI for their Windows Embedded applications.” In addition, Infragistics is gearing up to train other Microsoft partners: “We are creating a one-day seminar on Silverlight for Windows Embedded.”
Says Flick, “We’re a product company focused on great user experiences. The Microsoft project was building a custom interface. But we also offer prefab tools to let other developers build their own custom applications. We might build out charts and graphs that allow another developer to build a dashboard for an embedded solution.”
Make your own connection
Getting ready to embark on an embedded development project? Or would you like to highlight your own expertise with Windows Embedded development? Visit the Windows Embedded Partner Community to learn more about Windows Embedded technologies and to find embedded training and events near you. The Windows Embedded Partner Program can help you find a partner or help you become one. Learn more about the Windows Embedded Partner Program.
About Infragistics
A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Windows Embedded Partner, Infragistics is a leader in user interface development tools and an expert in the user experience market. Infragistics empowers developers to build and style immersive user experiences and rich data visualization in line-of-business applications. Infragistics supplies a range of value-added services, including UI testing tools, support, training, and consulting services.
Website
www.infragistics.com
Read the Infragistics partner profile
Products Supported
- Microsoft ASP.NET
- Microsoft Silverlight Technologies
- Microsoft Windows Forms
- Windows Presentation Foundation
- Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3