A comparison of the interface effect on the use of mobile devices

Abstract

Designers of mobile systems continue to focus on transferring the typical workstation environment as prevalent on the desktop PC to mobile devices. The lack of specific focus on the requirements of the wireless platforms means that some interfaces for small handheld devices and cellular telephones are inadequate in sufficiently supporting wireless connectivity. This paper tests various hypotheses to identify which aspects of the mobile device interface significantly affect basic ease of use. The aspects are grouped into five categories: Screen, Readability, Input Method, Interface Capabilities and Ease of Use. Subjects were asked to perform a task on three different mobile devices. Subjects were required to make the same purchase on the Internet, using each device and in no specific order. They were then asked to record their experiences on a questionnaire. Analyses of findings reveal that four of the five factors significantly affect the usage of mobile devices. It is concluded that the interface of mobile devices, considerably affects their usage.