Wireless Usability Issues in wireless phones deviceservice usability

1
Wireless Usability Issues in wireless phones
device/service usability

• Hyun Joo LEE
• LIS 385 T.6 Software Usability Engineering
• February 20, 2003

2
Contents

• Introduction
• Wireless phone services and networks
• Wireless connectivity
• Web-enabled mobile phone usability
• An insight for the wireless usability testing
• Conclusion

3
Introduction

• What is Wireless Usability?
• the users perception of the quality of
  wireless device/service, which is based on the
  users ease of use, ease of learning and
  relearning (Barnum, 2002)
• the device/services intuitiveness for the
  user, and the users appreciation of the
  usefulness of it
• Why Wireless?
• Portability (Mobility), Flexibility, etc.

4
Wireless phone services and networks

• 1 G first generation cell phones, analog
  technology
• handled only voice
• 2 G second generation cell phones, digital,
• offer data services (text messaging
  and Web access)
• 2.5 Ga transitional generation of phones,
• higher speed data (40 Kbps
  144Kbps) access.
• General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
  networks
• 3 G third generation networks, packet switching
• much higher speed connectivity
  (384Kbps 2 Mbps)
• - SK Telecom IMT 2000, KOREA(ROK)
• - NTTdocomo, Japan

5
Devices and 3G
PAGERS
Mobile phones
COMMUNICATORS
Built-in CCD camera Packet data
transmission images as e-mail attachments
PDAs
6
3G mobile-multimedia phone

• 1. i-mode
• i-mode has transformed the mobile phone from a
  tool for voice communication into an all
  encompassing information tool.
• i-mode was developed as a packet-switched
  high-speed (9600) system.
• Unlike voice calls, which are
  circuit-switched connections requiring dial up,
  i-modes data connections are packet switched,
  meaning the data connection is always on

7
2. WAP (Wireless Application Protocol)

• Standard in Europe, North America
• WAP architecture

Mobile phones
WAP gateway
Communication tower
Internet
Web server
http//www.useit.com/alertbox/20001210.html
8
Connectivity

• Connectivity of wireless devices depend on
  network reliability, power supplies such as
  battery life and so on.
• Always-on connections

9
Web-enabled mobile phone usability

• 1.Consumer issues
• -Display screen, input devices
• -Transport
• -Battery life
• -Communication
• -Peripherals and Expansion (Elden, C.R.)

10
2. focus group

• novice and savvy,
• Internet savvy,
• teenager or senior,
• phone savvy,
• everyday consumer,
• physically challenged,
• complex application user,
• online transaction user,
• high-income and high net worth
• geo-specific

11
3.Device and user interface elements

• Mechanism (selection v. typing )
• User-centered
• Consistency
• GUI (graphical user interface)
• -Menus, Popup Menus, Text entry fields,
  Check boxes, Radio buttons, Icons and push
  buttons
• Readability- Anti-Glare

12
4. Device checklist example

• Is the screen legible under both good and poor
  lighting?
• Are the controls intuitive for both voice and WWW
  use?
• Can they have be used by people of varying hand
  size and fingernail length?
• Can they be one-handed?
• Do they have a minimum of 6 lines of text
  visible?
• Is the screen legible to older users?
• Is the speaker volume loud enough?
• rapid-chargers available for road warriors?

13
5. Service checklist examples

• Is there adequate service to employees
  offices,
• travel routes, and homes?
• Check both voice and web access coverage
  areas.

14
An insight for the wireless usability testing

• Ease of use and ease of learning
• Reliability
• Situated environment

15
Conclusion

• Case studies and developing usability procedure
  are necessary for designing and testing for the
  wireless devices/services.
• In the usability study, effectiveness,
  efficiency, satisfaction of the wireless devices
  and services based upon users perspectives are
  the three major components to be considered.