Improving Android’s HTC User Manual

Why do we care? New Operating System Efficient informational sources are important for future phones Poorly made user manuals are wasted money Making it easy to be an expert can increase revenue

Defining The User 66% say they do not use the manual to learn new functions 76% say they look online or ask a friend. 14% say they are self learners 66% say they do not know how to harness their phone’s full potential 61% believe user manuals are important 81% say they prefer pictorial instructions whenever possible Literature shows that the wrong words can be problematic N = 21

Task Analysis Evaluated three tasks: Displaying the phone’s phone number Turning off the phone’s location Updating the phones Firmware Methods: Observation

Display phone number 1.0 Open Apps 2.0 Open Mobile Guide 2.0 Open Mobile Guide 3.0 Find “display phone number” 3.0A Use query 3.0A Use query 3.0B Read Manual 3.0B Read Manual 3.1B Device Basic 3.1B Device Basic 3.2B Display Number 3.2B Display Number 4.0 Encode Directions 4.0 Encode Directions 4.1 Home > settings> about phone > phone identity 4.1 Home > settings> about phone > phone identity 5.0 Execute directions 5.0 Execute directions Mean Bedford = 3.8

Turning off Location 1.0 Open Apps 2.0 Open Mobile Guide 2.0 Open Mobile Guide 3.0 Find “Location Settings” 3.0A Use query 3.0A Use query 3.0B Read Manual 3.0B Read Manual 3.1B Tap “settings” 3.1B Tap “settings” 3.2B Tap “location settings” 3.2B Tap “location settings” 4.0 Encode Directions 4.0 Encode Directions 4.1 Home > settings> location > read disclaimer > tap off/on > tap back 4.1 Home > settings> location > read disclaimer > tap off/on > tap back 5.0 Execute directions 5.0 Execute directions Mean Bedford = 5

Updating Firmware 1.0 Open Apps 2.0 Open Mobile Guide 2.0 Open Mobile Guide 3.0 Find “firmware updates” 3.0A Use query 3.0A Use query 3.0B Read Manual 3.0B Read Manual 3.1B Tap “Device Basics” 3.1B Tap “Device Basics” 4.0 Encode Directions 4.0 Encode Directions 4.1 Home > menu > settings> system updates > firmware updates 4.1 Home > menu > settings> system updates > firmware updates 5.0 Execute directions 5.0 Execute directions Mean Bedford = 3

Results Mean SUS score = 61.5 Grand mean of Bedford score = 3.9

Requirements for Prototype Shall have the same button layout as the HTC EVO by Sprint Shall have the same navigation as the HTC EVO by Sprint Shall use the same directions for executing the tasks as the HTC EVO by Sprint Should have a consistent color scheme as the HTC EVO by Sprint

Prototype

Results Average SUS Score = 90 Grand average of Bedford Score = 2.1

Discussion The prototype yielded an increased SUS score of 28.5 points The prototype yielded a lower Bedford score of 1.8 points The prototype reduced 53 errors

Limitations Usability testing did not take place on an Android phone This may have biased error rates.