A paper prototype study of the interface for a children's collaborative handheld learning application

Abstract

The use of handheld computers in the classroom environment is an area generating much interest among researchers. The questions of how to manage power and graphics while handling small screen space remain issues to be examined. In this study, a paper prototype test of the collaborative interface features was implemented using five user tasks: logging in, reading a text, answering text related questions, chatting, and entering data into a personal workbook. The test results illustrated the need for clear instructions and menu options for younger users, and that speech and written input were preferred over other methods. The feedback obtained from the test will drive the development of the actual system in future studies. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004.