Comparison of field and laboratory usability testing for mobile text entry

Mobile phones have gained considerable popularity and are now part of our daily life and are being used for diverse purposes other than making and receiving phone calls. It has become important from a user's point of view that the product they get is more user friendly. At present most of usability evaluations have been done in a lab, where we have a controlled and peaceful environment but this does not represent the true environment and conditions in which mobile phones are being used. This study was designed to look into the work done so far in usability evaluation techniques for lab, field and the comparisons of the two to get an idea of what other researchers have to say. Then conduct a usability evaluation in the lab and in field with text entry as the main activity to see what conclusion can be drawn. Based on data gathered during this study, it was noted that users are slower in the field as compared to the lab and there were significant differences in the results of lab and field usability evaluations. Another important factor discovered in the second study was the difference in performance of native and non-native English speaker's at a text entry task this study showed that there was a significant difference in performance of native and non-native English speakers. This suggested that culture also effects usability testing of mobile devices. Usability evaluation done in one culture may reveal different results if done in a different culture. This will form the basis for future studies.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

mphil

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters-pg

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Strathclyde

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Azad, Sohail

DOI

10.48730/xpa9-em76

Identifier

T13929

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:strathclyde:ht24wj41z