 |
|
Mobile users make same mistakes as disabled PC users
July 02, 2008Mobile phone owners make similar mistakes to physically impaired computer users when using the technology, according to new research from The University of Manchester.
The first set of results from research funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) indicates that many able-bodied people make the same errors - and with similar frequencies - when typing and 'mousing' on mobile phones, as physically impaired users of desktop computers.
According to researchers in the School of Computer Science working on the RIAM (Reciprocal Interoperability between Accessible and Mobile Webs) project, mobile owners press the wrong key and press the same key repeatedly by mistake.
They also found mobile users tend to click the wrong area of the screen, click the screen multiple times in error, and make mistakes when trying to drag and drop information.
"These types of errors have been a big problem for physically impaired users for a long time," said Dr Yeliz Yesilada, a senior researcher on the project. "But solutions have been developed for all of these problems in the form of small assistive computer programmes, which supplement Windows and Mac operating systems."
For the study, researchers at Manchester re-analysed earlier work by scientists at the University of Edinburgh who had looked into the problems of physically disabled users. They then re-ran the experiments with mobile users and found that a significant correlation existed between the two user groups.
"In recent years solutions have been built to help disabled users and it is hoped these solutions which can now be applied for the benefit of mobile phone users," said fellow researcher Tianyi Chen.
"By using solutions developed for disabled users we can help handset manufacturers, such as Nokia and Sony, to reduce the time we all spend correcting errors on our mobiles.
"Software already developed for PC users with disabilities could automatically correct erroneous commands and help reduce those annoying times when you accidentally cancel a text message or call someone by sitting on your phone."
University of Manchester
They also found mobile users tend to click the wrong area of the screen, click the screen multiple times in error, and make mistakes when trying to drag and drop information.
"These types of errors have been a big problem for physically impaired users for a long time," said Dr Yeliz Yesilada, a senior researcher on the project. "But solutions have been developed for all of these problems in the form of small assistive computer programmes, which supplement Windows and Mac operating systems."
For the study, researchers at Manchester re-analysed earlier work by scientists at the University of Edinburgh who had looked into the problems of physically disabled users. They then re-ran the experiments with mobile users and found that a significant correlation existed between the two user groups.
"In recent years solutions have been built to help disabled users and it is hoped these solutions which can now be applied for the benefit of mobile phone users," said fellow researcher Tianyi Chen.
"By using solutions developed for disabled users we can help handset manufacturers, such as Nokia and Sony, to reduce the time we all spend correcting errors on our mobiles.
"Software already developed for PC users with disabilities could automatically correct erroneous commands and help reduce those annoying times when you accidentally cancel a text message or call someone by sitting on your phone."
University of Manchester
Mobile Phone Current Events and Mobile Phone News RSSHands free mobile phone conversations add 5 metres to drivers' braking distances
Research led by Psychology researchers at the University of Warwick reveals that mobile telephone conversations impair drivers' visual attention to such a degree that it can add over 5 metres to the braking distance of a car travelling at 60 miles an hour, and causes almost twice as many errors as drivers driving without the distraction of a mobile phone conversation.
New technology could revolutionize breast cancer screening
The world's first radar breast imaging system developed at Bristol University that could revolutionise the way women are scanned for breast cancer, is being trialled at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT).
Disease diagnosis in just 15 minutes
Testing for diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis could soon be as simple as using a pregnancy testing kit.
Mobile phones help secondary pupils
Ask a teacher to name the most irritating invention of recent years and they will often nominate the mobile phone.
Texting costs are 'out of this world'
A University of Leicester space scientist has worked out that sending texts via mobile phones works out to be far more expensive than downloading data from the Hubble Space Telescope!
Get mobile, get promoted
Without that five minutes chat by the watercooler, the open-ended lunch break, or a boss's beckoning door, homeworkers can often feel isolated from colleagues and the opportunities for informal networking and mentoring that are wrought by the almost mythical 9-to-5.
Sweet nanotech batteries
Nanotechnology could improve the life of the lithium batteries used in portable devices, including laptop computers, mp3 players, and mobile phones. Research to be published in the Inderscience publication - International Journal of Nanomanufacturing - demonstrates that carbon nanotubes can prevent such batteries from losing their charge capacity over time.
National report calls for more research on health effects of wireless technologies
A new National Research Council report chaired by University of Colorado at Boulder Distinguished Professor Frank Barnes calls for a stronger research effort on the potential health effects of exposure to radio frequency energy tied to the global explosion in wireless technology like cell phones, laptops and hand-held Web-surfing gadgets.
Report identifies research to bolster knowledge of health effects of wireless communication devices
The rapid increase in the use of wireless communication devices in recent years has been accompanied by a significant amount of research into potential health effects from high exposure to radiofrequency (RF) energy emitted by these devices.
Designing new piezoelectric materials
Polymer-based piezoelectric materials are currently the object of great interest in the world of industry because they enable their use in new applications in sectors such as transport and aeronautics, amongst others.
More Mobile Phone Current Events and Mobile Phone News Articles
 | Beginning Mobile Phone Game Programming by Michael Morrison Build several fully functional games as well as a game engine to use for programming cell phone and mobile games with Beginning Mobile Phone Game Programming! The included CD provides the tool, code and graphics necessary to complete all exercises covered in the chapters. Beginning Cell Phone Game Programming demystifies wireless game programming by providing clear, practical lessons using the... |
 | Mobile Phone Programming: and its Application to Wireless Networking This book provides a solid overview of mobile phone programming targeting both academia and industry. The book covers all commercial realizations of Symbian, Windows Mobile and Linux platforms. Each programming language (JAVA, Python, C/C++) and a set of development environments are introduced “step by step” making developers familiar with current limitations, pitfalls, and challenges. ... |
 | T-Mobile G1 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) by Chris Ziegler What the book covers: Android phones will come in a wide variety of form factors, shapes, and sizes. At their hearts, however, the phones will function in a similarly (just as a wide variety of computers run Windows, but they are all fairly similar). The book will start off with Part I: Getting to Know the Android Phone. This will introduce the Android software and compare the first Android... |
 | Mobile Usability: How Nokia Changed the Face of the Mobile Phone by Christian Lindholm, Turkka Keinonen When it comes to delivering product design innovations to mobile device users, Nokia is the yardstick by which all others are judged. Now the process and working methods that have enabled Nokia to revolutionize usability are fully explained for the first time in this beautiful, four-color book. Written with insight by two veterans of Nokia's design triumphs (co-author Christian Lindholm was... |
 | Constant Touch: A Global History of the Mobile Phone by Jon Agar Until not very long ago the mobile phone was expensive and the preserve of a rich few. Today the cellphone is everywhere--so common it goes unnoticed. Jon Agar tells the fascinating story behind the rise and rise of this incredible little... |
 | The Mobile Connection: The Cell Phone's Impact on Society (Interactive Technologies) by Rich Ling Can the cell phone forever change the way people communicate? The mobile phone is more than simply a technical innovation or a social fad, more than just an intrusion on polite society. This book, based on worldwide research involving tens of thousands of interviews and contextual observations, looks into the impact of the phone on our daily lives, including changes in our accessibility, safety... |
 | Smart Phone and Next Generation Mobile Computing (Morgan Kaufmann Series in Networking) by Pei Zheng, Lionel Ni This in-depth technical guide is an essential resource for anyone involved in the development of "smart" mobile wireless technology, including devices, infrastructure, and applications. Written by researchers active in both academic and industry settings, it offers both a big-picture introduction to the topic and detailed insights into the technical details underlying all of the key trends. Smart... |
 | The Symbian OS Architecture Sourcebook: Design and Evolution of a Mobile Phone OS (Symbian Press) by Ben Morris The current Symbian Press list focuses very much on the small scale features of Symbian OS in a programming context. The Architecture Sourcebook is different. It's not a how-to book, it's a 'what and why' book. And because it names names as it unwinds the design decisions which have shaped the OS, it is also a 'who' book. It will show where the OS came from, how it has evolved to be what... |
 | Google on the Go: Using an Android-Powered Mobile Phone by John Eddy, Patricia DiGiacomo Eddy The first EASY guide to Google phones for consumers, not experts! A complete real-world guide for users of the T-Mobile G1 and any other Google Android phone Everything consumers need to know about Android calling features, contacts, calendars, photography, media, Web access, email, and troubleshooting Friendly, casual, practical, and easy to understand First to market - months before... |
 | It's Your Call: The Complete Guide to Mobile Phones by Andrew Mennen Mobile phones have matured from simple communication devices to status symbols and fashion statements. For many people, they have become very important in keeping in touch with friends and family. Most people, however, are confused by the plans and services of carriers, as more than hundreds of them come to the market every year. And they keep changing. The moment you inked a deal, someone... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |