Improving Content Design on Mobile Devices to Reduce Situational Visual Impairments
type: CreativeWork
description: Billions of mobile devices are used worldwide for a significant number of important tasks in our personal and professional lives. Unfortunately, mobile devices are prone to interaction challenges as a result of the changing contexts of use, resulting in the user experiencing a situational impairment. For example, when typing in a vehicle being driven over an uneven road, it is difficult to avoid incorrect key presses. Situational visual impairments (SVIs) are one type of usability and accessibility challenge mobile device user's face (e.g., not being able to read and reply to an important email when outside under bright sunlight), which suggests that current mobile industry practices are insufficient for supporting designers when addressing SVIs. However, there is little HCI research that provides a comprehensive understanding of SVIs through qualitative research. Considering that we primarily interact with mobile devices through the screen, it is arguably important to further research this area. Understanding the true context of SVIs will help to identify adequate solutions. To address this, I recruited 174 participants for an online survey and 24 participants across Australia and Scotland for a two-week ecological momentary assessment to establish what factors contribute to SVIs experienced when using a mobile device. My findings revealed that SVIs are a complex phenomenon with several interacting factors. I introduce a mobile device SVI Context Model to conceptualise the problem. I identified that mobile content design was the most practical first step towards addressing SVIs. Following this, I surveyed 43 mobile content designers and ran four follow-on interviews to identify how often SVIs were considered and how I could provide effective support. I found key similarities and differences between accessibility and designing to reduce SVIs. The participants requested guidelines, education, and digital design tools for improved SVI design support. I focused on iden…
abstract: Billions of mobile devices are used worldwide for a significant number of important tasks in our personal and professional lives. Unfortunately, mobile devices are prone to interaction challenges as a result of the changing contexts of use, resulting in the user experiencing a situational impairment. For example, when typing in a vehicle being driven over an uneven road, it is difficult to avoid incorrect key presses. Situational visual impairments (SVIs) are one type of usability and accessibility challenge mobile device user's face (e.g., not being able to read and reply to an important email when outside under bright sunlight), which suggests that current mobile industry practices are insufficient for supporting designers when addressing SVIs. However, there is little HCI research that provides a comprehensive understanding of SVIs through qualitative research. Considering that we primarily interact with mobile devices through the screen, it is arguably important to further research this area. Understanding the true context of SVIs will help to identify adequate solutions. To address this, I recruited 174 participants for an online survey and 24 participants across Australia and Scotland for a two-week ecological momentary assessment to establish what factors contribute to SVIs experienced when using a mobile device. My findings revealed that SVIs are a complex phenomenon with several interacting factors. I introduce a mobile device SVI Context Model to conceptualise the problem. I identified that mobile content design was the most practical first step towards addressing SVIs. Following this, I surveyed 43 mobile content designers and ran four follow-on interviews to identify how often SVIs were considered and how I could provide effective support. I found key similarities and differences between accessibility and designing to reduce SVIs. The participants requested guidelines, education, and digital design tools for improved SVI design support. I focused on iden…
author: Tigwell, Garreth
language: eng
keywords: Human-Computer Interaction, HCI, Accessibility, Situationally-Induced Impairments and Disabilities, SIID, Situational impairment, Situational Visual Impairments, SVI, Mobile devices
date published: 2019
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:08:46Z
provider: University of Dundee
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Dundee