Mobile QWERTY user research

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the methodology and the activities of mobile QWERTY research and give examples of different pieces of research and some of the results and insights. To minimize confounding effects of different aspects of QWERTY design, we use virtual keyboard layout tools to construct/replicate different keyboard layout designs so that both human performance and user satisfaction can be captured by systematically varying design parameters in the same testing environment. In addition, we also conduct usability testing by varying specific hardware design parameters and keeping all others constant whenever possible. By using this 2-pronged approach, an empirical performance model of mobile QWERTY keyboard in relation to different design attributes (both perceptual and mechanical) can be built over time. The approach we have adopted in virtual keyboard testing also helps to improve virtual QWERTY keyboard design on touch devices as well as physical QWERTY keyboard layout on devices with physical QWERTY. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.