The Importance of Mobile Interface Icons on User Interaction

Mobile applications on smart phones and tablets and on mobile devices in general have increased the dependence of the user on icons and graphic elements for effective communication via the interface. Well-designed icons and graphics allow the user to recognize without the need of additional instructions the functions available on the mobile device in question. The present paper offers an analysis of graphic representation by means of icons for mobile devices. In terms of semiotics, the function of representation involves emphasizing the relationship between the object and the interpretant. In particular , we examine how far any icon represents the meaning of the function for which it has been designed, chosen and installed by the mobile phone manufacturer and designer. Among the chief findings are (1) graphical representation affects the recognition rate of icons and influences user perception and (2) there are significant differences in performance in recognizing icons among different age groups.

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