Is the iPhone Usable? IM360 Final Presentation By: Kelly Rand & Blake Bassett 2

What is the iPhone? The Apple iPhone is a mobile phone that combines the functionality of multiple devices into one device. The iPhone acts as a web browser, an client, a MP3 player, a global positioning system, a calendar, a data organizer, and a phone. 3

Interviews The general purpose of our research was to find out who the users of the Apple iPhone are and the tasks they complete with their iPhone. Our goal was to properly assess the products usability, learning the users’ habits and duration of time spent performing certain tasks was imperative to learn about the users of the Apple iPhone. 4

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The ages of the interviewees ranged widely from Female to male participants was 5 to 8 respectively. The education level of the interviewees ranged from doctoral down to high school. Overall participants were highly satisfied with the Apple iPhone. Major Results 8

What users said they wanted… Flash Player4 Copy & Paste3 Larger Icons3 Advanced texting2 Video Camera2 Zoom2 Built in Dictionary1 Memory storage1 More straight forward key importance1 Selecting1 9

Interview Statistics 5 Female 8 Male 7 Mac 6 PC Where people use there iPhone the most… Transit:6 Home:4 Work:3 What applications do people use… 1.Text Message 2.Phone 3.Web Browser 4. Least Used: World Clock 10

Heuristic Evaluation Minimalist design approach makes it easy for users to understand and esthetically pleasing. Visibility of system status is given to users at all times. Matching between the system and real world is achieved through logical information grouping and universally recognized visual symbols The home button is an easy escape route and is a great example of user control and freedom to explore the interface by being the “emergency exit” for all the applications. Principles followed: 11

Heuristic Evaluation Consistency and standards are followed throughout the iPhone interface and applications. The iPhone helps users prevent errors and easily allows them to recover if an error occurs. Recognition rather than recall is utilized by having applications and actions visible throughout the interface. Principles followed: 12

Heuristic Evaluation & Cognitive Walkthrough Icon color and size should be made to be customizable. Icon size and label text could be too small for some users, and the iPhone currently offers no capability to customize the size. Flexibility and efficiency, and user control and freedom are hindered by there being no support for user modifications. Customization of icons such as changing icon colors would also improve recognition rather than recall for iPhone users through better differentiated visible cues. Better consistency between done/save and back/cancel. The principles of matching between system and the real world and consistency and standards would be improved through this small change. Add a search option on the main pages to search applications. Users should have the ability to search their phone for a specific application; this follows the heuristic principle of consistency and standards. For power users who have a plethora of applications, a search option would improve the flexibility and efficiency of use. Results: 13

Cognitive Walkthrough The task was to send a response/reply to a received . Mail icon signifies the total unread mail in all Inboxes. Mail that has not been read will show up with a blue circle icon preceding the mail subject and body. The users may face a slight confusion knowing which icon is the reply button. The icon looks similar to Microsoft Words’ undo button. When the user clicks the wrong icon there is a prompt to allow the user to cancel out of the wrong function (default setting). 14

Heuristic Evaluation & Cognitive Walkthrough Add tips and tricks for advance users. This is part of adding help and documentation to the Apple iPhone and would also improve users flexibility and efficiency of use. Add an option to view applications in a different way such as a folder or listing option. Users of the iPhone having a list option could improve flexibility and efficiency of use as well as giving the user greater control and freedom. Error prevention may be heightened through viewing application in a different organizational structure. Results: 15

Heuristic Evaluation & Cognitive Walkthrough Results: Overall Rating:

Usability Study Five iPhone users with a range of experience from intermediate to advance participated in the usability test for the Apple iPhone interface and default applications. In general, people found the iPhone to have an aesthetically pleasing interface with an intuitive design. Overall satisfaction level of 4.4 out of a 5 point scale (5 being the highest level of satisfaction). The majority of issues noted about the iPhone interface by the users involved customization of the organizational structure and interface layout. 17

Target iPhone Users for the evaluation… The Usability testing was focused on the 25 to 39 year old iPhone user segment. – General goals were to improve their productivity and stay socially connected. – These users want to be “connected” anywhere they are globally. – Staying current and informed is of the highest value to this user segment. 18

Test Environment Each of the testing situations was be conducted in a reserved private room inside the Richardson Library in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Both the test subject and moderator sat on the same side of a table with the observer/recorder standing/sitting behind the test subject at a listening distance 19

 Apple iPhone  Usability Testing Script  Usability Testing Log  Writing Utensils  Watch Stopwatch  Informed Consent Form Test Equipment 20  One Participant The Participant The ModeratorThe Observer

The test monitor/recorder role Included note taking and time reporting on each task – The test monitor remained out of the test subject(s) line of sight for the duration of the usability test. The recorder simply took notes on the observation of the user’s interaction with the Apple iPhone. – In the perspective of the test subject, the recorder was introduced and made aware of to the participant but no further interaction will took place. 21

22 Usability Test Photos

Test Objectives 1. Can participants complete all tasks? How long does each task take on average? 6. How satisfied are the test subjects with the Apple iPhone? 5. Do users have difficulty differentiating between items/icons within the tasks? People hesitated slightly before launching an application. Participants fingers scanned over the home screen while searching for the right icon to launch the application they wanted. 4. Does the user get stuck or confused at any section of any of the tasks? Are all tasks able to be completed with a high level of efficiently? 3. How many clicks does it take for each task on average?

Low-Fidelity Prototype 24 BeforeAfter Option#1

Low-Fidelity Prototype 25 Before After Option#2

Low-Fidelity Prototype 26 After Option#2 After Option#1

Recommendations 27 User freedom to customize information layout. User freedom to customize the sizing and color of the icons. Search feature on the home screen. Timer designated button hints Copy and Paste functionality. Flash Player capability. Native voice recognition. Help documentation including tips and tricks

Usability Expert vs. Users… 28 Usability Expert Add an option to view applications in a different way such as a folder or listing option Add a search option on the main pages to search applications Icon color and size should be made to be customizable Better consistency between done/save and back/cancel Add tips and tricks for advance users User Different Listing option Search feature on the home screen. Copy and Paste functionality. Larger Icons Flash Player capability. Native voice recognition.

What we would have done differently next time… 29 We wished we would have chosen an application that had more usability issues. We should have had a computer record the click and time of each task to rule out the recording errors Possibly a more detailed script of slow down and speed- up questions to keep the participant motivated throughout the Usability Test.

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