From bicycle to bites: Indoor vs. outdoor user testing methodologies of georeferenced mobile apps

Abstract

The paper is aimed to explore and discuss the way we evaluate, asses and test with users mobile applications—which main interaction modality is GPS and geo-referenced data—both in-lab and en plein air. The research intends to asses user experience evaluating methodologies to have better insight to understand how to design and plan spatial interactions among people, mobile devices, the physical environment and the digital space of geo-located information. The study adopts user test task-based methodologies coming from the user-centered design qualitative methods comparing infield research and usability lab conditions. The paper proposes experimental evidences coming from the indoor experiences—where geo-localization is simulated, but other research parameters are in control—with outdoor situation—where geo-localization is the real driver of interactions, but many variables interferes with some parameters and measurement observation—to understand experimental variables and bias to prevent them in the design process, using the field of cycling as a case study.