Handheld Usability

Handheld devices cannot be designed simply as copies of their desktop counterparts; they have smaller displays, trickier input mechanisms, less memory, reduced storage capacity, and less powerful operating systems. Understanding the specific challenges of technology on the move is the first step towards designing great products for handheld devices.

Handheld Usability is a practical, hands-on guide to designing interfaces for handheld, electronic computing and communication devices, including e-mail pagers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and mobile telephone handsets.

This book will give you the skills you need to:

Understand the types of handheld devices and their differences

Design user interfaces for handheld devices

Design user interfaces for the wireless Web (WAP)

Prototype user interfaces for handheld devices ?

Conduct usability tests on prototypes and live, handheld product applications

Don't reinvent the wheel!

The lack of standardization in interface design doesn't mean that you have to start from scratch every time. This 'plain English' guide will help you to plan your own usability tests as part of the design and development process, and let you learn from insights on design gained from real life experience.

With so many handheld devices to choose from, usability can be a very powerful distinguishing factor. Well designed products mean happy users, and satisfied customers become loyal customers. With the help of Handheld Usability you can give the customer what they want, and get it right first time.

Table of Contents

Introduction.

About the Author.

Acknowledgements.

Handheld vs. Desktop.

Handheld Devices.

Information Architecture: Process.

Information Architecture: Practice.

Prototyping.

Usability Testing.

Appendix A: Handheld History.

Appendix B: Paper Prototyping Applications for the Palm OS^®.

Appendix C: Sprint PCS/NeoPoint 1000 Usability Study.

Appendix D: Glossary.

Bibliography.

Index.