User-centered design and evaluation of a concurrent voice communication and media sharing application

Abstract

This paper describes two user-centered studies undertaken in the development of a concurrent group voice and media sharing application. The first used paper prototyping to identify the user values relating to a number of functional capabilities. These results informed the development of a prototype application, which was ported to a 3G handset and evaluated in the second study using a conjoint analysis approach. Results indicated that concurrent photo sharing was of high user value, while the value of video sharing was limited by established mental models of file sharing. Overall higher ratings were found among female subjects and among less technologically aware subjects and most media sharing would be with those who are close and trusted. This, and other results suggest that the reinforcement of social connections, spontaneity and emotional communications would be important user objectives of such a media sharing application. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.