Ubiquitous usability: considering user distractibility in mobile interface design decisions

Abstract

The traditional approach to application design that operated effectively for those who interacted with desktop computers must be re-evaluated when approaching design for the mobile environment; the constraints users may encounter must be considered in order to create successful applications. Mobile devices require different sets of physical and mental interactions, in countless settings and under myriad conditions, introducing distractions and accompanying cognitive load effects that traditional approaches cannot mitigate. Through review of existing work and data gathered from a mobile user experience study, a usability checklist was produced for those who design and engineer for the mobile environment.