Design Features for Usable Mobile Electronic Data Capturing Forms: The Form Developers’ Perspective

Abstract

Mobile Electronic Data Capturing Forms (MEDCFs) are electronic form applications that are primarily used for data capture using mobile devices in the place of paper-based routines. Translating paper-based forms to MEDCFs presents several usability challenges due to the design limitations of using mobile devices. The main objective of this study therefore was to define the most important design features that need to be considered when developing MEDCFs. Fifteen mobile form developers each received a semi-structured questionnaire via Email. The questions were derived from sub heuristics for mobile applications and were based on features that are common to forms such as form content, form layout, input type, error handling and form submission. The study identified the eighteen most important design features that all MEDCFs should have in order to provide a usable tool. These include feedback, logic implementation, form navigation, data input format requirements, unique identification, language translation and error handling among others. With a shorter design feature checklist specific to MEDCFs, and collaboration efforts amongst the various stakeholders, it will be possible to develop usable mobile electronic data collection forms.