Mobile Web Applications : Usability Factors

Usability is a determining factor of success in the mobile internet application as well.

Though, it’s ‘always-with you’, ‘personalized’ way to access internet, it has several limitations. Let’s understand the limitations of the mobile web application environment:

Limitations:

• Screen ‘Real Estate’ issues: resolution limitations as compared to desktops / notebooks / netbooks.
• Browsers: Various browser renders site differently on different devices.
• Hardware limitations: Processor speed, RAM, ROM, Form factor
• Expensive Data Usage: Data usage charges may be heavy.
• Connectivity issues: Bandwidth, Network reach.
• Limited Interaction possibilities: Less-friendly pointing device.

We can ‘enhance’ the user experience of web on mobile, by following certain guidelines, to overcome limitations as much as possible.

While we design the site / applications that’s suits best to various mobile devices / browsers / connectivity aspects, we MUST consider several ‘factors’ that contributes to a better ‘mobile web user experience. Ideally, we should follow as much as of these guidelines, so that the site / applications designed for mobile-specific environment becomes more usable. Better the user experience, more the successful application would be!

Here we start…

1. Address users’ requirements as ‘quickly’ as possible:
   Generally, users are accessing the web on mobile for their immediate needs, for e.g. locating the nearest cafe or finding the closest Theater or for a short-spanned entertainment.  In Such users, “quickness” makes a lot of difference, time being a ‘crucial’ factor. In such cases, understanding the users’ immediate requirements & assisting them to fulfill them quickly enhance the experience of your application.
2. DO NOT repeat the navigation on every page:
   Screen “real estate” is very valuable & precious when it comes to mobile devices & so, needs to be used wisely. Mobile devices have varied screen sizes. For such various but limited screen sizes, what gets delivered upfront, “above the fold”, does make a difference.  DO NOT repeat the main navigation on every page, as it pushes the content down, generally “below the fold” making it inaccessible for the user. Also, make sure you place it on the homepage as that being an entry point to the site.
   

   Usability for Mobile Web Applications

3. Make user inputs simpler:
   Entering text on a mobile phone can be more painful than on a conventional desktop-based input mechanisms. Make sure your design allows the users to input the text in an easier way. Allow them to choose by selecting an item instead of manually entering the text (as it’s even more error-prone). Also, use the markup to assist certain features in the content. For example, a Telephone number displayed can be used to call the particular no right from there itself, instead of copying the phone number or manually entering it on the dial pad.
   

   Usability for Mobile Web Applications

4. Indicate clearly what is selected:
   Mobile phones generally have lesser cursor control, as the pointing device is either joystick or the directive buttons on the phone. But, even these controls may not work as desired as sometimes choosing the selection can scroll down the page if the control is not selected properly. So, indicating what’s selected is another important factor so that user doesn’t get frustrated by selecting something wrong which he didn’t intend to. Show the selected link by highlighting it with different color or something similar & viable. Some browsers has built-in mechanisms that automatically indicates when a user is on a certain control or link in the page.
   

   Usability for Mobile Web Applications

5. Inessential stuff to be kept out:
   Provide only essential & relevant information on every page. User’s generally pay for all the content they see on their devices & so, for them, any inessential data downloaded is a pain, because THEY have to pay for the content they never wanted to see & gets frustrated. Reading habits would also vary from desktop to mobile device. Content designed for mobile web also needs to be crisp & to the point, as the users will not be interested in reading any typical junk on their devices which they are not interested in & have to pay for it.
   

   Usability for Mobile Web Applications

There is more for this usability for mobile web applications.  In the next post, I will explain some more points which are important for mobile web applications  & its usability.

I would be happy if you can post your comments / suggestions which wil help us to enhance our approach to mobile web development. Kindly contribute!

Updates: read 2nd part of this post