Inuitive use of mobiles

[tomgoodfella]

hi everyone

i'm doing a dissertation on the inuitive use of mobiles.

i'm looking for any info/research/studies etc about the topic.

if you can link me to any useful sites i would be very grateful.
you don't have to link me to exact articles, jsut the main page and i'll continue the research.

if you have any opinions on the matter too, feel free to post them up

thanks very much in advance

[quartus]

Sounds interesting. Can you explain a little more.
Do you mean when people want to reach someone and they automaticly use their phone? Or what do you mean?

[tomgoodfella]

it's about being able to pick up a new phone and use it straight away.
no need to read an instruction manual.

it's because phones rely very heavily on previous experience....

if i gave my grandad my phone and asked him to make a call or even type out a text he would struggle. having grown up with digital interfaces we can usually figure out how to work a phone, even when we change brands, but i am looking into how to change this so that a phone should work on how ur basic insticts tell you to do something.

i've done a case study on the nokia 7610, picking out what is easy to do on the phone and what isn't. a sybian type platform will be the future i believe as it is totally customisable, ie. put the menus and features where you 'intuitivey' think they should be...

also looking into new technologies and the concepts around that enable better interaction with phones as the 12 numerial keypad is now struggling with the inoput of text and browsing web etc. this includes touchscreen, voice recognition, digit wireless fastap, virtual keyboards (projected)

also building the theory that it's going to take someone like apple to come along and give the manufactures a kick up the bum by creating a much better intuitive to use menu system.

phones are changing too, not just voice calls, now media devices.

there's lots to go on so thank u if u've read this far.

any related stuff please post me a link

cheers very much
tom

[fabarati]

my brother did his dissertation about mobile technology. i can ask him where he got his stuff. try talking to the different phone companys. Sony Ericssons new phones have a guide that help people when they start it for the first time, maybe you could use that in someway. try talking to reviewers of phone, like michael, sid or people from other review sites and magazines, because they know alot about usability of phones.

[tomgoodfella]

that would be great. is there any chance i could get a copy of it?
i've nearly finished mine but it would be interesting to see what topics he has covered.
and no, i won't copy any of his work! i may quote some if it's relevent though as it is an academic resource.

do you know when he did it? obviously mobile technology is moving very fast.
i've been using a book called 'user interface design for electronic interfaces' but this was written in 2000, so parts of it are already outdated.

anyways cheers very much
tom

[fabarati]

what do you where? at what university? he did it at the university of durham, i northern england (for those who doesn't know) in the summer of 2002, just when the new technologies were emerging. he did (i think) from an engeneering point of vue
i haven't been able to ask him, and so you it's quite big (around 100 A4 pages), so it might be a hassle sending it to you. i'll ask him the next time i see him, which means at the latest thursday.
by the way, where are you studying (which country, university) and what are you taking your ba/ma in?

[tomgoodfella]

i'm at sheffield hallam uni, which is also in the north east of england.
and i'm doing a BA hons in product design

by sending a copy i meant thru e-mail if poss. i'm not too sure now if his study will be that relevent, as i'm looking at it from the user's point of view rather than the engineering side from 2 and a half years ago.

my dissertation is only 6000 words whereas his must have been much more and very detailed on the engineering points to make 100 pages. mine's currently about 20!

if he thinks his work may be useful and is willing to e-mail it i would be very greatful.

regards tom

[fabarati]

i'll try to talk to him tonight and ask his permission

[fabarati]

srry tom. i asked him, and it wouldn't help you. it was from a business point of vue. if you are still interested i can ask him

[tomgoodfella]

nah it's ok.
thanks for ur help tho!

anyone else feel free to add opinions....... just how easy is ur phone to use?