A new approach to analyse human-mobile computer interaction

by , ,

Peer-reviewed Article

pp. 90-98

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Abstract

This paper describes a tool for log file recording and a method for quickly and easily analysing human-computer interaction with mobile devices. The tool logs screenshots and quantitative interaction data, such as number of clicks and timestamps. The analysing tool provides the ability to evaluate the interaction sequences and to export an MS Excel®-sheet for statistical analysis. To evaluate the tool, a usability study was conducted comparing the effectiveness of this tool in the laboratory and in the mobile context. Findings show that the tool is the first step toward a very effective, unobtrusive analysing method for user interaction in the mobile context. Combined with debriefing methods, it would be an optimized way for usability testing with mobile devices.

Practitioner’s Take Away

The following ideas for a practitioner came out of this research:

  • Evaluate mobile usability in the field with unobtrusive methods.
  • Avoid thinking aloud method for field testing.
  • Use remote mobile usability testing for gaining practical relevant usability data.
  • Implement log file analysis if it is possible for detecting problems in interaction structure.
  • Combine objective data with subjective methods, e.g., confronting the user with captured screenshots (video confrontation).

Published in: in Volume 3, Issue 2,

The Authors

  • Jürgen Kawalek

    From 1994 to 1997, Professor Dr. Jürgen Kawalek was director of the European Teleservice evaluation Centre at the PRZ (TU Berlin). Since 1998, he has been a professor for multimedia- psychology at the University of Applied Sciences in Zittau/Görlitz. He is head of the IKAROS project, as well as the Center for eLearning.

  • Annegret Stark

    Annegret Stark received her graduate degree in Communication Psychology in 2004. She worked as research associate at the University of Applied Sciences in Zittau/Görlitz focusing Human Computer Interaction with mobile devices. Currently, she works at the Center of eLearning.

  • Marcel Riebeck

    Marcel Riebeck works as research associate at the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz, Germany. He holds a graduate degree in Communication Psychology and has a special interest in Human Computer Interaction. Marcel is currently project manager of an interdisciplinary research project that focuses on log file analyses for understanding user needs.