Evaluating Web and Mobile User Interfaces With Semiotics: An Empirical Study

Muhammad Nazrul Islam,A K M Najmul Islam,Harry Bouwman

doi:10.1109/access.2020.2991840

Muhammad Nazrul Islam, A K M Najmul Islam + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2020.2991840

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Abstract

Computer interface signs, such as navigational links, thumbnails, small images, command buttons, symbols, icons, etc., which serve as communication artifacts between designers/systems and users, constitute an under-researched area. To design and evaluate intuitive interface signs, the Semiotic Interface Sign Design and Evaluation (SIDE) framework was developed. The aim of this study is to test the framework's applicability to evaluate web and mobile user interfaces. To that end, two empirical user studies were conducted among a total of 86 practitioners (n1 = 58, n2 = 28). The results show that the SIDE framework helps identify unique usability problems, such as the intuitiveness of interface signs in terms of their referential meaning, which would not have been detected with traditional heuristic evaluation methods. The paper increases our understanding of the intuitive nature of interface signs of web and mobile interfaces, and of the practical use of intuitive signs.

Highlights

A user interface (UI) is a crucial component of any software system, with usability being the key factor determining its effectiveness
This research contributes to existing literature that has compared the performance of different usability evaluation methods [27], [28], by focusing on the outcomes of a semiotic-based approach in comparison to a heuristic evaluation approach that does not explicitly pay attention to the use of interface signs from a semiotic perspective
Apart from these, The results showed that a reasonable number of major and catastrophic problems were detected using both techniques in different websites and mobile applications that need to be addressed to improve their usability and acceptability

Summary

Introduction

A user interface (UI) is a crucial component of any software system, with usability being the key factor determining its effectiveness. Ease-of-use and user-friendliness are the key terms associated with the concept of usability [1], [2]. Usability refers to the extent to which a software system, or any product, can be used efficiently, effectively and satisfactorily within a specified user context [3]. The evaluation of usability is one of the main cornerstones of designing intuitive user interfaces [4], [5]. One of the under-researched areas in this context is the use of interface signs, including navigational links, thumbnails, small images, command buttons, symbols, icons, etc. One of the under-researched areas in this context is the use of interface signs, including navigational links, thumbnails, small images, command buttons, symbols, icons, etc. [9]–[11], which are used to locate the content or functionality for which the users are looking

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