A fuzzy cognitive map approach for analysis of electronic consumer products in terms of usability among different age groups

As a result of widespread use of mobile devices, the role of electronic consumer products (ECPs) in education (mobile learning) is getting important day by day. As ECPs are made up of both hardware and software, both aspects should be considered when evaluating their usability. In this paper, a methodology is proposed to explore the importance of usability dimensions of ECPs among old, middle-aged and young people using FCM. In the case study, mobile phones were chosen as the target product. According to the findings, learnability and efficiency are the most important factors for all age groups. Screen size is found to be the third most important factor for the old user groups. Moreover, the number and function of the button sizes come are found to be important factors for young users.

[1]  Jakob Nielsen,et al.  Usability engineering , 1997, The Computer Science and Engineering Handbook.

[2]  Tharam S. Dillon,et al.  A usability-evaluation metric based on a soft-computing approach , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics - Part A: Systems and Humans.

[3]  David L. Olson,et al.  Decision Support Models and Expert Systems , 1991 .

[4]  Jackie Haigh,et al.  Using mobile technologies for assessment and learning in practice settings: a case study. , 2008, Nurse education in practice.

[5]  Yanjie Song,et al.  SMS enhanced vocabulary learning for mobile audiences , 2008, Int. J. Mob. Learn. Organisation.

[6]  Lada Gorlenko,et al.  No wires attached: Usability challenges in the connected mobile world , 2003, IBM Syst. J..

[7]  Mary Corbett,et al.  SUMI: the Software Usability Measurement Inventory , 1993, Br. J. Educ. Technol..

[8]  Natalia Juristo Juzgado,et al.  Analysing the impact of usability on software design , 2007, J. Syst. Softw..

[9]  Turkka Keinonen,et al.  Mobile Usability: How Nokia Changed the Face of the Mobile Phone , 2003 .

[10]  Bart Kosko,et al.  Fuzzy Cognitive Maps , 1986, Int. J. Man Mach. Stud..

[11]  Emel Aktas,et al.  An Evaluation Methodology for Ergonomic Design of Electronic Consumer Products Based on Fuzzy Axiomatic Design , 2008, J. Multiple Valued Log. Soft Comput..

[12]  Bill Karakostas,et al.  The use of fuzzy cognitive maps to simulate the information systems strategic planning process , 1999, Inf. Softw. Technol..

[13]  Myung Hwan Yun,et al.  Evaluation of product usability: development and validation of usability dimensions and design elements based on empirical models , 2000 .

[14]  Victor Paquet,et al.  Survey instrument for the universal design of consumer products. , 2005, Applied ergonomics.

[15]  Yen-Ting Lin,et al.  Toward interactive mobile synchronous learning environment with context-awareness service , 2008, Comput. Educ..

[16]  Anastasios A. Economides,et al.  The design and evaluation of a computerized adaptive test on mobile devices , 2008, Comput. Educ..

[17]  Shirley Ann Becker,et al.  E-government usability for older adults , 2005, CACM.

[18]  Alp Üstündag,et al.  Evaluating Radio Frequency Identification Investments Using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps , 2006, J. Multiple Valued Log. Soft Comput..

[19]  A. Ant Ozok,et al.  Short Messaging Service use among college students in USA and its potential as an educational tool: an exploratory study , 2007, Int. J. Mob. Learn. Organisation.

[20]  Luvai Motiwalla,et al.  Mobile learning: A framework and evaluation , 2007, Comput. Educ..

[21]  Yoneo Yano,et al.  Supporting multi-step annotation to promote reflective learning: triggered by a cell-phone , 2008, Int. J. Mob. Learn. Organisation.

[22]  Gwo-Hshiung Tzeng,et al.  A soft computing method for multi-criteria decision making with dependence and feedback , 2006, Appl. Math. Comput..

[23]  Young Sam Ryu,et al.  Development of Usability Questionnaires for Electronic Mobile Products and Decision Making Methods , 2005 .

[24]  V. Judson Harward,et al.  Studio-based learning via wireless notebooks: a case of a Java programming course , 2007, Int. J. Mob. Learn. Organisation.

[25]  Massimo Bertolini,et al.  Assessment of human reliability factors: A fuzzy cognitive maps approach , 2007 .

[26]  Martina Ziefle,et al.  Understanding age differences in PDA acceptance and performance , 2007, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[27]  So Young Sohn,et al.  Searching customer patterns of mobile service using clustering and quantitative association rule , 2008, Expert Syst. Appl..

[28]  Joseph Sharit,et al.  A cost-benefit analysis methodology for assessing product adoption by older user populations. , 2004, Applied ergonomics.

[29]  Jeremy Roschelle,et al.  Keynote paper: Unlocking the learning value of wireless mobile devices , 2003, J. Comput. Assist. Learn..

[30]  Jan Stage,et al.  New techniques for usability evaluation of mobile systems , 2004, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud..

[31]  Christian Lindholm,et al.  Mobile Usability: How Nokia Changed the Face of the Cellular Phone , 2003 .

[32]  Chung-Hsing Yeh,et al.  User-oriented design for the optimal combination on product design , 2006 .

[33]  Daniel Churchill,et al.  Learning object design considerations for small-screen handheld devices , 2007, Comput. Educ..

[34]  Laurence Brooks,et al.  Fuzzy cognitive map modelling educational software adoption , 2008, Comput. Educ..

[35]  A. I. Ölçer,et al.  A new fuzzy multiple attributive group decision making methodology and its application to propulsion/manoeuvring system selection problem , 2005, Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[36]  Claire Bradley,et al.  Designing multimedia learning objects for PDAs , 2008, Int. J. Mob. Learn. Organisation.

[37]  Jiho Choi,et al.  Using fuzzy cognitive map for the relationship management in airline service , 2004, Expert Syst. Appl..