Generating applications directly on the mobile device: an empirical evaluation

This paper presents an investigation, based on the combined use of two techniques: a questionnaire-based survey and an empirical analysis, to assess the effectiveness and efficacy of the MicroApp environment to support End-Users in the visual composition of their own applications directly on their mobile phone. The satisfaction of the End-Users has been investigated as well. The context of this study was constituted of students, administrative personnel and consultants of the University of Salerno. The survey shows a positive satisfaction degree of all the involved subjects, while the empirical analysis reveals that the use of the Micro App tool increases the efficiency and, in case of complex tasks, also the simplicity with respect to the use of a PC-based similar tool proposed by Google.

[1]  B. Shneiderman.  Designing the User Interface (3rd Ed.) , 1998 .

[2]  Claes Wohlin,et al.  Experimentation in software engineering: an introduction , 2000 .

[3]  Jan Stage,et al.  Experimental Evaluation of Techniques for Usability Testing of Mobile Systems in a Laboratory Setting , 2003 .

[4]  Jean Scholtz,et al.  Metrics for evaluating human information interaction systems , 2006, Interact. Comput..

[5]  K. Ricks,et al.  How to conduct your own usability study , 2002, Proceedings. IEEE International Professional Communication Conference.

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

[7]  Michele Risi,et al.  A Visual Approach supporting the Development of MicroApps on Mobile Phones , 2011, DMS.

[8]  Angela M. Cirucci,et al.  Usability Testing , 2021, UX Research Methods for Media and Communication Studies.

[9]  Anna Fensel,et al.  An Authoring Tool for User Generated Mobile Services , 2010, FIS.

[10]  Antti Oulasvirta,et al.  What does it mean to be good at using a mobile device? An investigation of three levels of experience and skill , 2011, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud..

[11]  A. N. Oppenheim,et al.  Questionnaire Design, Interviewing and Attitude Measurement , 1992 .

[12]  Susumu Saito,et al.  Ergonomics of human-system interaction , 1994 .

[13]  Fabio Paternò,et al.  Remote Evaluation of Mobile Applications , 2007, TAMODIA.

[14]  James R. Lewis,et al.  IBM computer usability satisfaction questionnaires: Psychometric evaluation and instructions for use , 1995, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact..

[15]  Sung H. Han,et al.  A factor combination approach to developing style guides for mobile phone user interface , 2011 .

[16]  Michele Risi,et al.  MicroApps Development on Mobile Phones , 2011, IS-EUD.

[17]  Franca Garzotto,et al.  SUE inspection: an effective method for systematic usability evaluation of hypermedia , 2002, IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern. Part A.

[18]  Peter M. Chisnall,et al.  Questionnaire Design, Interviewing and Attitude Measurement , 1993 .