Environment Analysis as a Basis for Designing Multimodal and Multidevice User Interfaces

Abstract

In this article, we present a practical approach to analyzing mobile usage environments. We propose a framework for analyzing the restrictions that characteristics of different environments pose on the user's capabilities. These restrictions along with current user interfaces form the cost of interaction in a certain environment. Our framework aims to illustrate that cost and what causes it. The framework presents a way to map features of the environment to the effects they cause on the resources of the user and in some cases on the mobile device. This information can be used for guiding the design of adaptive and/or multimodal user interfaces or devices optimized for certain usage environments. An example of using the framework is presented along with some major findings and three examples of applying them in user interface design.

Notes

Acknowledgments. We thank all themembers of the research team as well as all the participants in the interviews, observation and shadowing sessions, and usability tests. Most sincere appreciation also goes out to Ms. Elviira Krebber for helping with the language in this article. Sami Ronkainen also thanks Professor Roderick Murray-Smith of the University of Glasgow for his comments and discussion related to this article.

HCI Editorial Record. First manuscript received March 10, 2008. Revisions received January 5, 2009 and July 7, 2009. Accepted by Clayton Lewis. Final manuscript received October 22, 2009. — Editor