Investigating context: Synthesizing user behaviour and HCI models to support mobile user testing within a natural setting

Pointon, Matthew (2014) Investigating context: Synthesizing user behaviour and HCI models to support mobile user testing within a natural setting. In: iFutures, 22 July 2014, Sheffield.

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Abstract

It is fair to say Smartphone take-up has exploded growing faster than any consumer technology in history. This technology has altered the way we communicate and has become a key source of information that has surpassed email as the core communication mechanism. Within a consumer driven society the Smartphone user has virtually their whole lives on their phone (banking, shopping, life-style apps, gaming etc.). Developers need their applications to be workable in all contexts; at home, at work, in the lift, on the bus etc. When developing applications for these kinds of situations, changeable technological configurations and contexts are crucial to support the user experience and device interaction.Grounded theory identified two models matching the researcher’s goal. Within HCI field Kristoffersen and Ljungberg (1999) created a Basic reference model of Mobile Informatics supporting context by “reflecting the way in which using IT in mobile setting differs from stationary settings” (Kristoffersen & Ljungberg, 1999, p.13). A connection was also made between the HCI field and the information field with the common goal of “information needs”. Information needs was seen as a natural starting point this presented the researcher with a wide and varied set of models. Wilson’s 1997 Information Behaviour model provided the researcher with a clear path or adaptive framework. Fusing these models formed a prototype model aiming to bridge the gap between usability testing and user behaviour taking into account use, configuration and context to information seeking.This professional doctorate is based around an investigative exploration of students understanding of this prototype testing model. This took an auto-ethnographic approach evaluating user behavior and technological approaches in testing mobile applications. The research aims to provide a new approach and a model to support mobile testing in a naturalistic setting aimed at supporting testing agility.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Poster)
Subjects:	G400 Computer Science
Department:	Faculties > Engineering and Environment > Computer and Information Sciences
Depositing User:	Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited:	12 Nov 2018 11:55
Last Modified:	11 Oct 2019 18:45
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/36612

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