Ken
Nagasako
ICS
463 ALN
January
20, 2003
In-Class Activity #1: Interaction Design
The
handheld device I examined is a Motorola cellular phone.
Part
(a):
First
Impressions (Good and bad):
Making a phone call on the cellular phone is
relatively simple. The user uses a keypad, laid out in the traditional phone
keypad arrangement, to enter the telephone number. The numbers are displayed on
an LCD screen as they are entered, making it easy to verify that the telephone
number is being entered correctly. Once the number is entered, the user simply
presses the ³Send² button to dial the number.
Talking on the phone is also easy, as the phone is
laid out as a traditional phone, with the speaker on the upper end and the
microphone on the lower end.
The LCD screen is backlit, to aid in viewing in
low-light conditions.
However, it may not be obvious at first that the
user needs to press the ³Send² button to start a phone call, or the ³End²
button to hang up. Also, if users wish to access other functions of the cell phone,
such as voice messaging, text messaging, or the built-in phonebook, they need
to navigate through a multi-tiered menu system. This system requires some time
to learn all of its functions, as menus branch out to more menus, many of them
with cryptic one word names (due to the space limitations of the small LCD
screen).
Entering text into the phone (such as a new entry
into the phonebook, or a text message) will also be difficult, as there are not
enough buttons on the phone to assign a separate key for each letter of the
alphabet. Consequently, the number keys are each assigned to represent three
letters of the alphabet, causing ambiguity when entering text.
Functionality:
1.
Allows phone calls to
be made and received.
2.
Built-in phonebook
and datebook.
3.
Sends and receives
text messages.
4.
Accesses user¹s voice
message mailbox.
5.
Can select from
various ring tones.
6.
Displays caller ID.
7.
Has three built-in
games.
8.
Has a built-in
calculator/currency converter.
9.
Can switch between
ringing/vibrating/both/neither to signal an incoming call.
10. Displays the number of minutes used on incoming/outgoing
calls.
11. Displays the time and date.
Range
of tasks a typical user would want in a cell phone:
All of the above listed
under ³Functionality² except perhaps for built-in games, the calculator, and
the datebook.
Therefore,
the functionality of the cell phone is greater than what the typical user would
want to do.
Part
(b) for Usability and User Experience Goals:
Usability
and User Experience Goals:
1.
effective
2.
efficient
3.
good utility
4.
easy to learn
5.
easy to remember how
to use
6.
aesthetically
pleasing
7.
fun to use
Of
these seven goals, I believe that being effective, having good utility, being
easy to learn, and being aesthetically pleasing are the most important.
Effectiveness is important because the cell phone must perform its basic
functions well in order to be a successful product. Utility is important
because the cell phone must provide all the functions that a user expects from
it in order to be useful. Being easy to learn is important because a cell phone
is a convenience device and as such, if it were hard to use, it would greatly
decrease its usefulness. A cell phone should be aesthetically pleasing because
many users want a cell phone that is small, lightweight, and stylish.
Part
(c) for Usability and User Experience Goals:
Questions:
1.
Does the cell phone
allow users to make and receive calls conveniently?
2.
Does the cell phone
provide all the functions that a user may typically want?
3.
Is it easy to access
the various functions of the cell phone?
4.
Is the cell phone
compact enough to carry in a pocket or purse?
Answers:
1.
The cell phone is
easy to use when making or receiving calls.
2.
The cell phone
provides all the basic functions that a typical user may want, as well as a few
extras such as games and a calculator.
3.
It is relatively easy
to access the various functions, given a moderate learning period.
4.
The cell phone is
small and compact enough for a purse or bag, but perhaps a bit too bulky for a
pocket.
Part
(b) for Design Concepts:
Design
Concepts:
1.
Visibility
2.
Feedback
3.
Mapping
4.
Consistency
Visibility
is important in the cell phone¹s menu system and LCD display in order to make
it obvious to the user what functions are available. Feedback is important to
let the user know such things as: if a button has been pressed, if a voice
message is waiting, if a phone call has come in, if the phone is set to ring or
vibrate, etc. Mapping is important in the layout of the cell phone¹s keypad.
Consistency is important in the cell phone¹s menu interface, e.g., is the same
button always used to select a menu item; is the same button always used to
move one level up in the menu hierarchy; etc.
Part
(c) for Design Concepts:
Questions:
1.
Does the menu
interface and LCD screen make it apparent to the user what functions are
available and which one is currently in use?
2.
When the user makes a
selection in the menu interface, is feedback provided which verifies that the
selection has been made?
3.
Is the user kept
apprised of incoming calls and voice and text messages?
4.
Is the numerical
keypad laid out in the standard telephone layout?
5.
Are there dedicated
buttons on the keypad which allow the user to scroll up and down the menu
choices, as well as select and cancel menu choices?
Answers:
1.
The interface and
screen do list functions available as well as the function currently in use;
however, the small screen size necessitates scrolling in order to see all
options.
2.
When a choice has
been made, a message is displayed telling the user exactly what choice was
made.
3.
Ringing or vibration
informs the user of incoming calls; an icon is displayed on the screen to
inform the user of received voice mail or text messages.
4.
The phone¹s numerical
keypad is laid out according to the standard phone layout.
5.
There are dedicated
up and down buttons, as well as a select button and a cancel button.
Part
(b) for Usability Principles:
Usability
Principles:
1.
Visibility of system
status
2.
User control and
freedom
3.
Consistency and
standards
4.
Recognition rather
than recall
5.
Aesthetic design
Visibility
of system status is important as feedback so the user knows which function of
the cell phone is currently being used. User control and freedom is important
in the menu interface, to quickly let the user access different choices, or
exit the menu interface entirely. Consistency and standards are important in
the cell phone¹s menu interface and button layout. Recognition rather than
recall is also important in the menu interface, in listing all the available
options. Finally, aesthetic design is important to create a phone that is easy
to use and portable.
Part
(c) for Usability Principles:
Questions:
1.
Does the LCD screen
clearly display which function is currently in use?
2.
Can the user navigate
through the menus easily and consistently?
3.
Are all the functions
that are currently available listed?
4.
Is the cell phone
easy to use and portable?
Answers:
1.
The LCD screen does
show the user what function they are currently using.
2.
Navigating through
the menu hierarchy is easy due to the up and down navigation buttons, as well
as the select and cancel buttons. The buttons perform consistent to their
functions. However, the LCD screen is small and thus requires scrolling.
3.
The menu system does
list all the current functions available; again, scrolling is required due to
the restriction of the screen size.
4.
The phone is portable
and easy to use when making phone calls; however, other functions require a
learning period.
Part
(e):
Possible
Improvements to the Interface:
1.
Larger LCD screen, to
increase readability and decrease the need for scrolling.
2.
Perhaps eliminating
the games, calculator, and datebook. These possibly extraneous functions could
be removed in order to lessen the complexity of the menu system.
3.
Streamlining the menu
system to reduce the initial learning curve of the cell phone.
4.
More descriptive menu
names to lessen confusion (especially when first learning to use the cell
phone)