Usability in Mobile Computing and Commerce

Author(s):  
Kuanchin Chen ◽  
Hy Sockel ◽  
Louis K. Falk

Usability is an acknowledged important aspect of any system or product design. Many times it is related to not only product features, but also ultimately profit that can be generated from the product. Good interface design promotes higher mutuality (feeling similar and connected), which in turn leads to higher levels of involvement and a favorable impression of credibility. Many practitioners and researchers (such as Jakob Nielsen, 2000) have elaborated on usability aspects, but few have agreed upon a unifying definition. In 1998 the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defined usability as 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” (ISO 9241-11, 1998, p. 2). From this definition it can be construed that effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction are three pillars for usability measures. In this regard, the ISO defines: • Effectiveness as the “accuracy and completeness with which users achieve specified goals,” • Efficiency as the “resources expended in relation to the accuracy and completeness with which users achieve goals,” and • Satisfaction as the “freedom from discomfort, and positive attitudes towards the use of the product.” The ISO standard acknowledges that the level of usability depends highly on the intended context of use (e.g., users, hardware, software, and social environments). Researchers have demonstrated that the three ISO usability components are distinct. Frøkjær, Hertzum, and Hornbæk (2000) found only a weak relationship among the three usability components. Walker, Fromer, Di Fabbrizio, Mestel, and Hindle (1998) found that efficiency did not translate into user satisfaction. These empirical studies suggest that efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction may be independent aspects of usability and a causal relationship among them may be weak or even nonexistent.

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824402199836
Author(s):  
Tarek Ismail Mohamed

This article focuses on applying the ethics of the product features during the students’ design education. Good/Bad design term is a conventional approach to discuss the ethical/unethical design values of the products. It is noted that different aspects of the product design such as visual information design, interface design, and appearance design have a vital role in judging the levels of ethics in the product. So the students of product design everywhere need to practice the term ethical/unethical design during their study because designers influence society more than they could imagine. This influence can be done by creating an attractive organized appearance and perfect functions that support the ethical brand’s image to the customers. The interviews and discussions were held as a research method with the students of product design in some institutions in addition to some design experts and customers to find out their opinions about the design values that achieve the ethical dimensions in the product design. They can end up with products that carry ethical values in their design. The final article’s results are in the descending order of the different design values according to their importance in emphasizing the ethical aspects of the products, in addition to a checklist including some important questions that can help the designers to be more aware of ethics’ considerations in the product design because ethics is a process of learning, not a process of obedience, and to highlighting the term of ethical designer which in turn reflects on the ethics of customers and societies.


Author(s):  
Kuanchin Chen ◽  
Hy Sockel ◽  
Louis K. Falk

Usability is an acknowledged important aspect of any system or product design. Researchers have found that a good interface design promotes higher mutuality (feeling similar and connected), which, in turn, leads to higher levels of involvement and a favorable impression of credibility.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (01) ◽  
pp. 22-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Indra Griha Tofik Isa

User satisfaction is a major factor in designing a product. Technically it can be realized explicitly how the product is designed according to the needs of its users. There are other factors that influence the success of the product, the psychological value of the user who can implicitly become a parameter in product design. But the thing that becomes a constraint is how to translate these psychological factors into the parameters of product design. Kansei Engineering (KE) is one approach in product design that involves the user's psychological side and how to translate the cognitive aspects of the user into the product of the design proposal. The KE methods, the one discussed in this study, is Kansei Engineering Type 1 (KEPack), which involves several multivariate analyzes. The conclusion of this research is how KE in designing a product, not only industrial product, but KE can be involved in matters related to Human Computer Interaction, especially interface design. Keywords: Product Development, Kansei Engineering, Kansei Engineering Type 1 (KEPack)


Gerontology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 590-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Dockx ◽  
Lisa Alcock ◽  
Esther Bekkers ◽  
Pieter Ginis ◽  
Miriam Reelick ◽  
...  

Background: Virtual reality (VR) technology is a relatively new rehabilitation tool that can deliver a combination of cognitive and motor training for fall prevention. The attitudes of older people to such training are currently unclear. Objective: This study aimed to investigate: (1) the attitudes of fall-prone older people towards fall prevention exercise with and without VR; (2) attitudinal changes after intervention with and without VR; and (3) user satisfaction following fall prevention exercise with and without VR. Methods: A total of 281 fall-prone older people were randomly assigned to an experimental group receiving treadmill training augmented by VR (TT+VR, n = 144) or a control group receiving treadmill training alone (TT, n = 137). Two questionnaires were used to measure (1) attitudes towards fall prevention exercise with and without VR (AQ); and (2) user satisfaction (USQ). AQ was evaluated at baseline and after intervention. USQ was measured after intervention only. Results: The AQ revealed that most participants had positive attitudes towards fall prevention exercise at baseline (82.2%) and after intervention (80.6%; p = 0.144). In contrast, only 53.6% were enthusiastic about fall prevention exercise with VR at baseline. These attitudes positively changed after intervention (83.1%; p < 0.001), and 99.2% indicated that they enjoyed TT+VR. Correlation analyses showed that postintervention attitudes were strongly related to user satisfaction (USQ: r = 0.503; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Older people's attitudes towards fall prevention exercise with VR were positively influenced by their experience. From the perspective of the user, VR is an attractive training mode, and thus improving service provision for older people is important.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 194008291985591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejin Su ◽  
Wenli Zhou ◽  
Qixia Du ◽  
Yongchun Huang

This study aims to explore the technical characteristics that affect user satisfaction with air-source heat pump technology which is recognized as one typical cleaner residential heating system and being promoted in China in response to the national “coal to electricity” policy. Moderated hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to analyze data from a questionnaire survey of 256 residents in suburban Beijing. Empirical results indicated that product convenience, product design, product reliability, product knowledge, and total cost, respectively, affect user satisfaction, but product safety has no significant effect on user satisfaction. Meanwhile, total cost is an important contingent factor that might weaken the positive effects of product convenience (or product design) on user satisfaction. Our research provides empirical evidence for identifying factors that influence user satisfaction with cleaner residential heating system in response to new energy policy and further provides useful managerial implications for market practice.


Author(s):  
Dal Vernon C. Reising ◽  
Penelope M. Sanderson

Ecological Interface Design (EID) is a recent philosophy for designing the visual displays of human-machine interfaces. An EID interface displays the higher-order relations and properties of a work domain so that adaptive operator problem solving is better supported for both normal and abnormal system conditions. Previous empirical studies of EID have assumed that the raw data required to derive and communicate the higher-order information would be available and reliable. The present research empirically evaluates the impact of having incomplete data on the effectiveness of an EID interface, compared to a more traditional piping and instrumentation interface. The research also addresses recent criticism directed at previous empirical studies of EID is also addressed. Results suggest that diagnostic performance using an ecological interface is compromised only when the interface is supported by a minimal set of instrumentation. However, an ecological interface supported by maximal instrumentation, on average, leads to the best diagnostic performance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-122
Author(s):  
Pietro Murano

Purpose This paper aims to present a new user interface design for text proofreading portals in a digitization and crowdsourcing context. Several of the current proofreading portals lack usability in their user interfaces. The aim of the new design is to increase user performance and satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach An empirical experiment has been conducted to evaluate the new user interface as a comparison with 18thConnect – TypeWright proofreading portal. Two of the main measures involved times and errors and this approach is considered to be good for these kinds of measures allowing a good degree of control. Nevertheless, personal opinions are also very important and these are elicited by means of a post-experiment questionnaire. Findings The data were statistically analysed and overall the new user interface helped users to perform better in terms of task time. Errors were also better with the new user interface, but the differences were not statistically significant. Furthermore, users were more satisfied with the new user interface. User satisfaction measures were mostly statistically significant. Originality/value As far as has been ascertained, there have been no systematic studies evaluating a new design with an existing design of a proofreading portal. Therefore, this research is considered to be original, and if implemented widely, it would be very valuable to the mass digitization aims.


Author(s):  
Issac Golden ◽  
Andrew Stranieri ◽  
Alia Al Nuaimat

Background: The use of homoeopathic remedies to prevent infectious diseases, homoeoprophylaxis (HP), was first described over 100 years ago. To date, no systematic studies have been performed to identify the attitudes that current practitioners hold about HP or current trends in the use of HP. Aims: This study aimed to discover attitudes to HP amongst accredited homeopathic practitioners particularly with respect to overall acceptance, context of use, and preferred remedies. Methodology: Two international surveys were conducted in 2014. Responses were received from 1,124 homeopaths in 35 countries; 104 of whom responded to both surveys. Results: A large proportion of respondents have positive attitudes to HP and currently use HP in their practice. However, responses also indicate that knowledge about HP is chequered. Confidence in the evidence base of HP also is variable. Conclusion: Results indicate that HP is widely practised, however, further research is needed to improve confidence in the evidence base of HP, and better programs are needed to ensure that education about HP is enhanced.


Author(s):  
Chaoyan Dong

In social psychology, “what is attractive is good” means that a physically attractive person is perceived to be more favorable and capable. In industrial design, the interface is one of the three elements that influence users’ experience with a product. For multimedia learning, does the interface design affect users’ experience with learning environments? Does attractive interface enhance multimedia learning? Research in multimedia learning has been neglecting this issue. In this chapter, I propose that attractive interface design does indeed promote multimedia learning. This hypothesis is based on the review of the following theories and related empirical studies: 1) an interface impacts a user’s experience; 2) beautiful interface induces positive emotions; 3) positive emotions broaden cognitive resources; and 4) expanded cognitive resources promote learning. The Model of Emotional Design in Multimedia Learning is proposed to highlight how emotions regulate multimedia learning. Suggestions regarding designing attractive interfaces are provided.


Author(s):  
Bassam A. Y. Alqaralleh ◽  
Ahmad H. Al-Omari ◽  
Malek Zakarya Alksasbeh

Mobile information and communication technology changed how people and businesses can benefit from government public services at any time and from anyplace. The success or failure of mobile government services is becoming more dependent on satisfying the needs and the expectations of both citizens and business organizations. This paper reviews and analyses some existing empirical studies that examine m-Government acceptance in some developing countries. Then, a new integrated conceptual model for examining some important key factors that may affect m-Government acceptance in Jordan from user perspective was proposed.  An empirical test was conducted using a questionnaire to explore the effect of the following factors: Trust in mobile channel, trust in government, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, service quality and user satisfaction on the behavioural intention to use m-Government applications. Finally, justification of the proposed integrated model and formulation of the associated hypotheses was conducted.


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