The first five minutes.
WHY IT MATTERS DISPROPORTIONATELY
A device that will not set up is returned, and the support cost exceeds the margin.
WHAT THE COMMON APPROACHES ARE
The device creating a temporary network the phone joins Short-range pairing over a local radio protocol Scanning a code on the device Configuration written to removable media
WHAT SHORT-RANGE PAIRING PROVIDES
The simplest experience, where supported.
WHAT TO PROVIDE PHYSICALLY
A visible indication of state: waiting, connecting, connected, failed.
WHY
It is the only feedback available when the application cannot see the device.
WHAT TO MAKE OBVIOUS
How to return the device to setup mode.
WHAT TO HANDLE
Wrong network credentials Networks the device cannot join Devices already claimed by someone else Setup abandoned partway
WHAT TO DO ABOUT ABANDONMENT
Return to a clean state after a timeout.
WHAT TO NEVER DO
Leave a device in a state requiring a factory reset nobody can perform.
WHAT TO TEST
Setup by people who have not seen the product, without help.
WHAT TO MEASURE
Completion rate, and where failures occur.
WHAT TO ITERATE ON
Whatever step loses most people.
