Short Paper Proc. of Int. Conf. on Research Methodologies in Electronic Devices and Circuits 2012
Electronic Reading- Acceptance and Usability of Mobile Devices S. Pfannes1 and O. Klosa2 1
University of Technology/Department of Communication Science, Ilmenau, Germany Email: stefanie.pfannes@tu-ilmenau.de 2 University of Technology/Department of Communication Science, Ilmenau, Germany Email: oliver.klosa@tu-ilmenau.de In the study described we first had to consider the principles of usability and the special requirements for the reading on mobile devices. Using empirical and theoretical knowledge about the human-computer interaction we conducted a usability test with the target group to gain information about the usefulness of electronic publications from the user’s perspective. The study concludes with a recommendation for design principles regarding mobile reading devices and outlines the user’s acceptance toward these devices.
Abstract - This study examines the usability of mobile reading devices using a user oriented evaluation method. It presents a study of the theoretical basis of the acceptance theory and usability as well as resultant characteristics of the mobile user context. With the help of a usability-test, the electronic reading on a dedicated reader and a Tablet-PC were tested with regard to their efficiency, effectiveness, ease of use and joy of use. The investigation revealed that the majority of persons tested are already used to digital reading, but the devices do not offer the comfort and functionality that would lead to broad consumers’ acceptance and adoption.
II. EREADER VS. TABLET-PC Index Terms—electronic reading, mobile devices, usability, acceptance, design
The eReader is a mobile device that enables users to read and store electronic content, e.g. books with the purpose of presenting them. Most of the dedicated eReaders are about the size of a paperback while being slim and portable [14]. The E-Ink Technology of most of the devices was designed to simulate ink on paper to make the reading experience as natural as possible. One Reason for that is the stable image that does not have to be refreshed constantly [14]. The TabletPC can also act as an eReader, but it is actually designed to manage a variety of functions, like browsing, listening to music and watching videos [15]. Therefore Tablet-PCs provide a larger multi-touch display and a more powerful processor than eReaders [15]. Both devices are designed to be controlled by bare fingers and a virtual onscreen keyboard. By swiping the finger over the display the user of the Sony eReader is able to turn pages and navigate through documents. The eReader also allows taking freehand notes and highlighting sections, using the included stylus. Whereas the gesture control of the Sony eReader is kept very simple, the multi-touch screen of the iPad offers a user interface that can be controlled with fingertips. The gestures are very intuitive and easy to imitate by the user. Compared to the Apple iPad, the Sony eReader offers no Wi-Fi, so the user has to download books to the PC and transfer them via USB port to the device. The iPad allows user to download books and newspapers directly from the internet via wireless network and 3G [14], [15].
I. INTRODUCTION For centuries, reading books or newspapers HAVE implied the use of paper. But with the transition to the digital age this scenario has fundamentally changed. Electronic reading on screens and displays has increasingly become a part of our everyday lives and has changed our reading habits permanently. The increasing range of digital publications coupled with the rise of powerful mobile devices and the willingness of the readers to read on displays replace the printed word bit by bit. Consequently, the design of electronic systems is becoming more and more important and raises the main question: How can electronic devices and print media be designed to satisfy needs of the reader in the same way as it has been done with printed paper? In this study it is assumed that a user-friendly design of dedicated readers has an impact on the user experience and the user acceptance. However a fundamental concept for the user perception in terms of usability aspects in the mobile environment is still missing. Therefore the theoretical framework is one part of this study. The second part of the study is the investigation of the usability aspects to give recommendations for the design of print media on mobile devices. Two devices, the Sony eReader PRS-600 (Touch Edition) and Apple iPad, were selected to represent typical mobile devices of the category dedicated eReader and Tablet-PC. Both devices were tested for different usability aspects regarding their suitability as electronic reading devices to answer the research questions: How user-friendly are the innovative devices and in which way does the usability of a device affect the acceptance of users? © 2012 ACEEE DOI: 02.EDC.2012.01.504
III. CONTEXT OF MOBILE USAGE For the understanding of the context of usage it is important to define the electronic reading process and the different components. Electronic reading can be defined as reading with the help of an electronic device. The focus is on a communicative and interactive process between the reading 118
Short Paper Proc. of Int. Conf. on Research Methodologies in Electronic Devices and Circuits 2012 device and the user with the intention to interchange information [12]. This interaction process requires two opposite sides: the user as recipient and operator and the mobile system.
Fig. [1] Context of Mobile Usage
In this study we defined electronic readers as small handheld devices for displaying digital texts and images, which can be accessed anytime and anywhere, with the aim to satisfy the reading needs of the user. This definition already includes numerous challenges in the context of mobile use. Firstly, it has to be considered that mobile devices can be transported to any location as they are battery-powered. Secondly, mobile devices can be used during the transport with integrated input and output modalities (e.g. screen, keyboard, etc.). Thirdly, all components are combined in one single package [8]. Thus, mobile devices have to be as compact as possible and should have little weight. At the same time the limited hardware leads to restrictions in the interaction design and includes the need to adapt and modify the established interaction principles that were initially developed for stationary equipment, like home computers. Home computers, for examples, often impress with large displays and numerous input and output devices, like keyboard, mouse, webcam etc. In the mobile context there have to be found modest but reliable alternatives for input and output modalities, such as virtual keyboards or double assignment of buttons [8], [10]. Another aspect is the mobility. When users are mobile, their context of usage changes more frequently than when they are sitting at a stationary desktop computer. Mobility implies different locations during the interaction and dual-tasking situation, which divides the user’s awareness into two spheres - the device and the environment. Therefore the duration of interaction between electronic device and human is limited to short and superficial activities. The extent of such tasks is generally reduced to a few seconds or several minutes [8]. Therefore, quick access to information and interface within a few seconds is essential. Another priority concerning the reading on mobile devices is the visualization of information or text on small displays. Small screens, low resolution, and therefore minimal display options are great challenges for the presentation of information [3] and should also be considered in the design process. IV. FROM USABILITY TO ACCEPTANCE
and physical characteristics of humans. Such a process includes a detailed analysis of the wishes and needs of the user. A term that still determines the user friendliness of systems is the term usability. The standard definition of ISO 9241, 11 can be divided into the following three components: effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction. Effectiveness describes the correctness and completeness of how users achieve certain goals [2]. Indicators of effectiveness include quality of solution and error rates. In this study, we have used the error rates as the primary indicator of effectiveness. Efficiency is the relation between the correctness and completeness with which users achieve certain goals and the resources spent on achieving them [2]. This effort can include mental or physical issues, time, material or financial means. We have used time-completing as the primary indicator of efficiency. Satisfaction describes the user’s comfort with a system and the positive attitude towards the use of the system [2]. User satisfaction can be measured by verbal information. In this study, we have used the Thinking-Aloud-Method as the primary indicator of satisfaction. For the theoretical framework of the study the Davis’ Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was selected, which states that the use of a system is always affected by the user’s perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Further studies have shown that both dimensions have an additional positive effect on an individual’s attitudes towards using an information system [1]. Another good indicator of the perceptions of system usability is the subjective user perception towards a user interface [13]. Indeed, previous studies have shown that user perceptions towards a system’s interface are strongly related to apparent usability and may affect overall system acceptance significantly [7], [5], [9]. Therefore, the TAM of Davis was extended by the dimension of joy of use [4].
Fig. [2] Modified Technology Acceptance Model
In terms of Human-Computer Interaction the concept of joy of use extends the usability engineering by adding an emotional component that includes positive experience during the interaction [4] because of excellent performance and an aesthetically pleasing design. V. RESEARCH DESIGN
The qualitative study was conducted in September 2010 The goal of a successful ergonomic design is to avoid or with a group of 16 users. The study consisted of a written reduce usage problems [6]. For this reason a user-centred questionnaire, a scenario-based usability test and an design is essential, which requires an adaptation to the mental 119 © 2012 ACEEE DOI: 02.EDC.2012.01.504
Short Paper Proc. of Int. Conf. on Research Methodologies in Electronic Devices and Circuits 2012 interview. Two devices were tested: a dedicated eReader Sony Reader PRS-600 (Touch Edition) and the Tablet-PC Apple iPad. Each subject was provided with a portable device and the corresponding user manual. All relevant electronic publications were available on the device. The participants were instructed to carry out some typical tasks, e.g. scrolling and browsing through a digital newspaper, magazine or eBook, setting a bookmark, searching for an article, making notes and reading a text. The survey was conducted using videobased observation and the Thinking-Aloud-Method. All subjects were asked to verbalize their thoughts during the interaction with the device to make the decision-making process more transparent. A partly standardized interview was the final element of the test in order to obtain additional verbal information on aspects of motivation and acceptance from the users. A single test lasted between 46 minutes and 58 minutes.
of the Sony eReader. Of the 17 usability problems identified, five problems were classified as “serious” or “critical” problems: 1. Bookmark Feature/Font-size Adjustment: Participants expected icons for the most elementary features and got confused as the icons were not displayed. The bookmark function could not be selected directly. Users had to search for these features. This was very time-consuming. 2. Zooming and Scrolling: Both features had a negative impact on the user’s performance and caused disorientation in locating information. 3. System Status and Error Messages: The status of the system during search request or an error message was not noticed by the user; because icons were too small and out of the user’s view. 4. Contrast/Luminance: The contrast of the display was inadequate. In addition the contrast cannot be set individually. 5. Unclear Interaction Mode: Text elements in the publications appeared as clickable but were not interaction elements. In the Apple iPad group no critical events were noted. On the contrary, the positive comments made by the iPad group showed that the users of the iPad were very pleased with the performance of the device, whereas the Sony eReader led to frustrated reactions because of several usability problems. This had a negative effect especially on the intention regarding future use. Consequently, none of the participants would recommend the Sony eReader to their family members and friends or would purchase a device. Despite the good performance of the iPad, the majority of participants are still very sceptical. Most of the participants had the opinion that they could not satisfy their reading needs in the same way as with a similar printed product. Also the handling of a book, magazine or newspaper makes the participants feel more comfortable compared to an electronic device. Especially the time effort of operating with the device diminished the pleasure of reading significantly. As a consequence the acceptance and intention to read on an electronic device in the future is significantly low.
VI. FINDINGS For the comparative study, 16 users were recruited (nine male, seven female). All subjects were students or graduates of the University of Technology in Ilmenau. The age range in the Sony PRS group was 22 to 28 years. The Apple iPad group consisted of people aged from 23 to 26 years, with four male and four female subjects. None of the participants was in the possession of a Sony eReader or an Apple iPad at the time of the investigation. All participants had had some experience with reading on electronic devices. More than a half of the participants were used to reading on a home computer or notebook every day (94 %). The majority of participants read daily on an electronic device such as a home computer, laptop or smartphone. More than a half of the subjects read several times a day on an electronic device. However, most of the participants prefer reading in a quiet environment like home (94%) or in a library (75%). This corresponds to the fact that the preferred print medium is still the book. Only a few of the users could imagine reading a novel on an electronic device (38%). The only exception is the reading of academic literature and non-fiction (81%). Here, the participants perceive the electronic reading as very convenient and useful compared to a heavy book. The usability test revealed large differences between the Apple iPad and the Sony eReader in efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction. So the time spent on the tasks was significantly higher using the Sony eReader, which can be explained with a smaller number of usability problems as well as a more intuitive use of the Tablet-PC. Regarding the completeness and correctness during the performance of tasks there could not be identified any difference between the two devices. All 16 participants were able to complete the tasks efficiently with the respective device. Differences only existed between the rates of errors, which were much lower with the iPad than the Sony eReader. Serious usability problems could be identified in categories of Human-Computer-Interaction and the Visualization of Text and Information and only occurred in the test group © 2012 ACEEE DOI: 02.EDC.2012.01.504
VII. RECOMMENDATION Our initial findings have indicated that some criteria in terms of reading on mobile devices have to be guaranteed. Significant factors are a) the adaptation of the interaction design to the mobile context of use, b) modification of digital publications for the portable device, and c) compliance with the established principles of information design. Furthermore, it is necessary to reduce the interaction steps to a minimum in order to meet the requirements of the mobile context. Consequently, basic functions, such as setting a bookmark or setting the font size have to be directly available. When it comes to graphic symbols like icons it should rely on standardized symbols that are already in the awareness of a user. Thus, the individuality and self-description is definite. 120
Short Paper Proc. of Int. Conf. on Research Methodologies in Electronic Devices and Circuits 2012 touch displays which have already been used in several electronic mobile devices will be the norm, as well as the possibility of downloading books or current issues of newspapers directly to the device. At the same time it can be assumed, that publishers and libraries will find new ways to offer their content quickly and easily via internet.
An adaptation of electronic journals and newspapers to the reader’s needs is essential. This applies especially to the navigation and presentation. Usually, the reading of magazines and newspapers is not linear. Reading a newspaper is mostly selective according to the preferred ranking of the reader. Therefore a table of content with hyperlinks to the articles is one option to avoid extensive searching and browsing. This keeps users from scrolling through the various articles, which is very time-consuming. As for advertising new presentations strategies have to be found, especially in magazines. Browsing through advertising pages is not effective; minimization of images and other forms of advertising are recommended. The usual column layout of print editions is a rather unsatisfactory presentation method for small displays. By navigating through the text, the user is prevented from reading fluently and, in the worst case, completely disoriented. To neutralize this problem, special features have to be found for electronic reading devices. The ability to switch rapidly from the overall summary to a detailed presentation would ensure the clarity and ultimately reduce the feeling of disorientation. In addition, memorable and intuitive icons are needed to enhance the self-descriptiveness of the interface, enable the various functions to be quickly registered, increase the user’s visual orientation, and thereby assist the process of learnability and ergonomic use of the software. Orientation towards the interface of PCs could be a reasonable solution to the problem, because this corresponds to the previous knowledge and expectations of users. Additionally, status and error messages have to be clear and comprehensive while not providing a surfeit of information. Specific error messages should be short and include both the mistake and the cause of the error. With these criteria in mind the interaction becomes easier and more intuitive and, therefore, ensures a positive mobile user experience.
REFERENCES [1] F. D. Davis, Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, and User Acceptance of Information Technology. IN: MIS Quarterly 13(3), 1989, pp. 319-340. [2] EN ISO 9241-11, Ergonomische Anforderungen für Bürotätigkeiten mit Bildschirmgeräten. Teil 11 Anforderungen an die Gebrauchstauglichkeit. Deutsche Fassung EN ISO 92411, 1997. [3] G. Grünwied, Applikationen für kleine Displays – neue Herausforderungen an das Interaktionsdesign IN: 12. Internationale Geodätische Woche Obergurgl 2003, Chesi and Weinold Eds., Begleitender Fachvortrag am 20.02.2003 [4] M. Hatscher, Joy of use – Determinanten der Freude bei der Softwarenutzung. Unpublished diploma thesis, Department of Psychology and Health Sciences, University of Osnabrück, IN: H. Oberquelle, R. Oppermann, J. Krause (ed.): Mensch & Computer: 1. Fachübergreifende Konferenz. Stuttgart, 2001, pp. 445-446. [5] M. Hassenzahl, The Effect of Perceived Hedonic Quality on Product Appealingness. IN: Int. Journal of Human-Computer Interaction 13, 2001, pp. 481-499²³{[]} [6] A. M. Heinecke, Mensch-Computer-Interaktion. Leipzig, 2004. [7] P. W. Jordan, Designing Pleasurable Products: An Introduction to the New Human Factors, London, 2000. [8] D. Krannich, Mobile System Design -Herausforderungen, Anforderungen und Lösungsansätze für Design, Implementierung und Usability-Testing Mobiler Systeme, Norderstedt, 2010 [9] D. A. Norman, Emotional design: why we love (or hate) everyday things. Basic Books, 2004. [10] J. Roth, Mobile Computing: Grundlagen, Technik, Konzepte, 2nd. Ed., Heidelberg, 2005. [11] F. Sarodonick, and H. Brau, Methoden der Usability Evaluation. Wissenschaftliche Grundlagen und praktische Anwendung. Bern, 2006. [12] C. E. Shannon and W. Weaver, The Mathematical Theory of Communication. Urbana, Illinois, 1949. [13] N. Tractinsky, Aesthetics and apparent usability: empirically assessing cultural and methodological issues, Conference Proceedings on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Atlanta, USA, March 22 - 27, 1997, pp. 115-122. [14] Sony.de, Sony eReader PRS-600 Touch Edition http:// www.sony.de/product/rd-reader-ebook/prs-600 [25/04/2012] [15] Apple Inc., Apple iPad, Technical Data http://www.apple.com/ de/ipad/specs/ [25/04/2012]
VIII. CONCLUSION In this paper we have examined the factors affecting the intention of using mobile reading devices by testing the TAM of Davis. As already confirmed in other studies [7], [9], [5] a positive user experience during the interaction process influences the attitudes towards device and intention of usage. Additionally, we have also found that as long as the users do not perceive electronic reading devices as beneficial and convenient by satisfying their reading needs, they will not adopt the innovative devices. However, the widespread acceptance of electronic reading devices among individual users is still far from being reality. But it can be expected, that the advantages of quick access to information and profound knowledge of literature will motivate many readers to use these innovative devices in the future. Availability, searchability, mobility, and not at least cost-efficiency are exciting aspects of electronic reading and will enhance the user’s awareness and interest in digital print media in the near future. Giving readers a good reading experience displays have to be similar to paper. Colorful multi© 2012 ACEEE DOI: 02.EDC.2012.01.504
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