Abstract
Mobile phone technology is becoming ubiquitous. However, a number of unique usability challenges are still unresolved, including small screen size, device orientation changes, and an array of interaction methods (tap, flick, pinch, etc.) These challenges may be particularly acute for people with learning disabilities. This study examined the usability of touchscreen interactions, the difficulties, and possible solutions. An app was developed in which (12) participants accessed Google Maps and manipulated it to find various London Underground station locations. Text input (a password), tap, swipe, and pinch were required, and their usage was analysed. Many participants were successful in finding the required information. However, many difficulties arose, including misunderstandings of the labelling (a live ‘Welcome’ button was not tapped, whereas a short list of instructions was erroneously seen as a menu and so erroneously tapped to access each step in the process) and an over-sensitive zoom feature. Three categories of error were formulated from the findings: affordance, user, and functionality. Recommendations are offered, such as using more appropriate ‘signage’ for link buttons (affordance); manipulating the zoom feature using + and - buttons rather than a ‘pinch’, which requires two fingered dexterity (functionality); and more formal training and familiarity (user).
Highlights
As Dekelver et al [1] state, ‘(ICT skills) are becoming a gateway to today’s world of education, entertainment, business and social life
The propensity to choose the top two photos when deciding on which attraction to locate, reflects work undertaken by the author on web site design and usability on static devices, where he developed the idea of ‘serial access’ [20,21]
It can be said that there are various signalling mechanisms can be built into the appearance and functionality of mobile applications to enable optimal usability for individuals with mild learning disabilities
Summary
As Dekelver et al [1] state, ‘(ICT skills) are becoming a gateway to today’s world of education, entertainment, business and social life. This is no minor problem; Mencap, a leading UK learning disability charity, calculated (using data from Public Health England and the Office for National Statistics) that there are 1.4 million people with a learning disability in the UK [2]. Tap ‘Go’ button on Displays gallery page introduction page. Displays gallery elements ‘Go’ button on Examine options. Displays gallery all options) level pagescreen introduction elements.
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