# Using Motion and Animation to Teach Android App Interactions

DevFeed: [Using Motion and Animation to Teach Android App Interactions](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/education-through-motion-23099.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://medium.com/android-news/education-through-motion-b500a77a3b5?source=rss----8fca399d4de---4>)

Author: Alistair Sykes

Published: 2020-04-09T14:46:24Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Android & Tech News -- Medium](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/android-tech-news-medium.md>)

Topics: [Android](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/android.md>), [Material Design](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/material-design.md>), [User Experience](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/user-experience.md>)

Tags: [android](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android.md>), [android-app-development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android-app-development.md>), [android-development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android-development.md>), [animation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/animation.md>), [how-to](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/how-to.md>), [material-design](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/material-design.md>), [user-experience](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/user-experience.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial explains how motion and animation in Android apps can guide users, clarify interactions, and improve user experience. It discusses Material Design principles, Android Animation and Animator APIs, and ripple effects for clickable list items.

## Source excerpt

Educating Android users can be subtle by using motionMaterial Design The material design system will be familiar to most, as one of the most widely used design systems. It's a visual language that represents good design principles whilst allowing expressive branding. Foundationally, it is based on the physics of the world. This makes it natural and familiar to users. It models the way objects move and how they interact with each other. Motion Motion can celebrate the completion of a task, delight the user, or help to drive the user through a flow. The way objects move and interact can bring a touch of class and express your brand. You can also use motion to help teach the user how to interact with an element. Often subtle bounces, shakes, and elevations can improve user experience and understanding. Animations On Android, animation API's have been re-written and changed over time. Currently, there are two main ways. The Animation API's are the older API's, but they allow you to use the anim resource files. The Animator API's are the newer API's which typically are a little easier to work with. Animator's change the properties of an object/view. Whilst Animation's only change the visual representation of them. Examples I have created some examples which give a flavour of what is achievable using motion on Android. There are many ways of creating the same animations, so I have tried to showcase a variety. Hopefully, these examples will inspire you to experiment with motion in your apps. Clickable Some elements may not appear clickable to some users. For example the items within a list. Although changing the static visual may help, using motion can be more powerful. Lists commonly will utilize a RecyclerView with an accompanying adapter. If a list item is clickable, you may want to set a background of selectableItemBackground. This provides a ripple effect upon user click, giving visual confirmation of a click. You can also trigger this effect manually, thus giving a v