1. Software Usability and Design
Krug 10 Mobile UIs
Jeff Offutt
SWE 205
Software Usability and Design

2. Computers in our Pockets
It is hard to remember life before we had pocket computers
And the web 24 / 7
Key advances :
Fast and small hardware
Scrolling by swiping
Zooming by pinching
30-Nov-18
© Jeff Offutt

3. Computers in our Pockets
The interwebs
Camera and picture storage
GPS with maps
Watch with alarms
Games
News, weather, and other information
Books, music, TV
Communication apps of all types …
30-Nov-18
© Jeff Offutt

4. Usability Differences
Screens are really really small
Screens rotate
Batteries don’t last long enough
Navigation is significantly harder
No keyboard
No mouse
No cursor and no hover
30-Nov-18
© Jeff Offutt

5. Big and Small Screen Versions
Offer less on the small screen
Deciding what to leave out is really hard!
Reorganize information
This is a lot of work, especially if the information changes regularly (news for example)
What comes first, big-screen or small-screen?
Where are most of the users ?
Which process is more effective ?
Which process is more efficient ?
Always include a link to the full version
Eventually we will have frameworks that let us develop both versions together
30-Nov-18
© Jeff Offutt

6. Personal Private Information
Pocket computers have a lot of personal information
Who do we want to share that with ?
Do we own that information ?
If we do, can we control it ?
Some apps offer sophisticated privacy controls
But they use confusing UI design to ensure that most users use the defaults … public
Most users have no idea what information is “out there” or what it is used for
30-Nov-18
© Jeff Offutt

7. The Mobile Ecosystem
Every pocket computer has a different pile of apps
These apps interact with each other
Sometimes in open ways ( to maps)
Sometimes in hidden ways (cookies)
Sometimes in illicit ways (an app accessing your camera to get access to physical location)
This ecosystem effects software design, testing, user behavior, and of course, usability
Many apps have significant security vulnerabilities
30-Nov-18
© Jeff Offutt

8. We’re still figuring out usability on mobile devices
Summary
We’re still figuring out usability on mobile devices
Check back in a few years and we will know more
30-Nov-18
© Jeff Offutt