Evaluation of User Interface Design and Input Methods for Applications on Mobile Touch Screen Devices

Abstract

Abstract. With the advent of touch screen phones, good UI design and simplified input methods for applications running on such devices are important factors that contribute to its popularity and success. The goal of this research is to evaluate different user interface designs and input methods for mobile phones with touch screen capability. In order to do this, two prototypes of a simple social networking application were implemented using a G1 phone that runs the Android platform. A user study has been conducted to compare different input techniques and UI designs and evaluate their usability.

Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review

“…There were only few studies that compared different input forms. Balagtas-Fernandez et al [113] assessed two layouts (i.e., scrolling list and tabs), two input methods (i.e., keyboard and modal dialogue), and two menu designs (i.e., device menu and context menu). The results indicated that the scrolling, modal dialogue, and the device menu were more efficient [113].…”

“…Balagtas-Fernandez et al [113] assessed two layouts (i.e., scrolling list and tabs), two input methods (i.e., keyboard and modal dialogue), and two menu designs (i.e., device menu and context menu). The results indicated that the scrolling, modal dialogue, and the device menu were more efficient [113]. El Batran and Dunlop [114] compared two form navigation methods: tabbing and pan and zoom.…”

Mobile Learning (M-Learning) and Educational Environments

“…• Mobile device user interfaces (UI) which provide a new mechanism of human computer interaction sequences such as multi-touch interfaces, image recognition, code scanning, etc… that have not been previously explored in research and there is not any established user interface guidelines exist [2,4].…”

A User Study with GUIs Tailored for Smartphones

“…Different GUI designs and input methods for touch-based mobile phones are investigated in [7], focusing on overall interface layout (scrollable vs. tabbed GUI), input mode (keyboard vs. tapping through a modal dialog) and menu access (device menu vs. context menu). The two GUIs under study in [7] differed in all these characteristics, which were investigated through an assigned task.…”

“…The two GUIs under study in [7] differed in all these characteristics, which were investigated through an assigned task. Nevertheless, it is hard to prove that only the investigated characteristic accounts for slower performance and that there is no influence from other characteristics.…”