Case Study WIP: 2025-2026

Focus Management in a Multi-Device World

Strategy for the Developer Experience for Jetpack Compose Adaptive UI and compliant input methods for an intuitive, seamless experience.

The Context

As Android moves from the palm of your hand to the dashboard of your car, to the interface on your tv or watch, and to the desktop in your office, the way we "touch" the screen is changing. Over the last six months, I focused on the Developer Experience (DevEx)foundational adaptive UI for Focus Management System of the Android's adapative UI framework Jetpack Compose.

"How do we ensure a user on a trackpad or a rotary knob has the same fluid experience as a user on a touchscreen, a controller, or a desktop?"

"How do we ensure a user on a desktop with a mouse has the same fluid experience as a user on a touchscreen or a trackpad?"

1. Compliance

Achieving WCAG 2.1 standards for focus visibility (SC 2.4.7) and keyboard accessibility (SC 2.1.1) in complex Compose hierarchies.

2. Adaptive Flow

Engineering logic that maintains focus parity when layouts reflow across tablets, foldables, tv, auto, and desktop environments.

3. Input Diversity

Solving for the unique constraints of trackpads, external keyboards, stylus, d-pads, and automotive rotary controllers.

Key Achievements

✓
The Universal Focus Modifier: Audited and indentified input and focus indicator compliance with a suggested custom Compose modifier that could reduced accessibility-related boilerplate issues by 80%.
✓
Lost Focus Traversal Logic: Prototyped solutions in Kotlin using Compose to highlight the "Focus Trap" issue within textfields by designing examples of issues and solutions to tracking state for the Focus Tree and how complex ui traversals within textfields and lists work.
✓
Internal Playbook: Authored internal guide for Android DevEx with Material desogn for Compose, bridging the gap between Design and Engineering on System UI, Web UI, and Native UI as architected by Android and iOS.

Focus Management Strategy Solutions and Traps

Adaptive Prototyping: Android Jetpack Compose

Using the latest API 36 and Dec 2025 Input Textfield Updates showing traps and solutions for traversal navigation within text input fields and differentiating the difference between a success within the emulator in Android Studio vs the actual physical testing device (Samsung Flip 3)
Note: this does not show resolution for tabbed traversal focus trap within dialog and modals.

This respository is for creating a Focus Input, TextField, and Traversal Demonstration on Android 16, Jetpack Compose 2025.12.01, Material 3 1.4.0.
minSdk = 24 targetSdk = 36 Java + jvmTarget = 11 targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_11

Working through Jetpack Compose Large Screen Focus and Input traps within TextFields

This repository and video is for creating a Focus Input, TextField, and Traversal Demonstration on Android 16, Jetpack Compose 2025.12.01, Material 3 1.4.0.