Introduction to mobile usability

@ThomasGohard | Learn Hack YOW

Learning objective

Make you think about:● Who you're designing for and what their

needs are.● How to work within the limitations of mobile

devices to meet your users' needs.● How you can use features offered by mobile

devices to better meet the needs your users.

Usability

ISO 9241-11 definition of usability

"The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use."

User research

User research is...

... Finding out:● Who your users are.● What they're trying to do.● How they're trying to do it.● Where they're trying to do it.● Etc.

User research methods

Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/user-research-methods.html

User research deliverables

Source: http://semanticstudios.com/publications/semantics/000228.php

Exercise 1: User identification

Imagine you're building an application using the garbage and recycling schedule:● Who are potential users?● What is their goals?● What is their context of use?

Designing formobile

Some important considerations

● Screen size and orientation.● Input method (touch, keyboard, voice).● Technical limitations (processing, memory).● Network connectivity (speed, availability,

data caps).● Context of use (inside, outside, on the go).● Focus and attention.

How people hold mobile devices

http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1649

How people hold mobile devices

http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1649

How people hold mobile devices

http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1649

How people hold mobile devices

http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1649

Some new capabilities

● Always-on; always-there.● Location-awareness.● Time-awareness.● Still/video camera.● Voice recording/recognition.● Access to user data:

○ Contacts.○ Calendar○ etc.

Exercise 2: Designing an interface

Design one or more screens for a garbage and recycling schedule mobile application for one or more of the users from Exercise 1.

Remember to consider your user's goal and context of use.

Usability testing

Usability testing is...

... Evaluating how your design:● Meets the needs and expectations of your

users.

Usability testing methods

Ways to test:● In-person, moderated.● Remote, moderated.● Remote, automated.

Usability testing methods

Types of tests:● Usability test.● Click test.● Tree test.● Heuristic evaluation.● Etc.

Let your imagination run wild

Running usability testing is like running an experiment. You are only limited by your imagination.

The two most important thing to remember about usability testing

1. You're testing the design, not the user.2. Test early, test often.

Exercise 3: Doing a heuristic review

Let's evaluate some of the interfaces you created in Exercise 2 against Nielsen's 10 heuristics.

Nielsen's heuristics

1. Visibility of system status2. Match between system and the real world3. User control and freedom4. Consistency and standards5. Error prevention6. Recognition rather than recall7. Flexibility and efficiency of use8. Aesthetic and minimalist design9. Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover

from errors10. Help and documentation

Source: http://www.useit.com/papers/heuristic/heuristic_list.html