The mobile device usability It is applied to the concept of ease of use (usability) in online services with mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. The objective is to address the particular characteristics of the devices, such as smaller screens or smaller resources compared to desktop or laptop computers, and to design or implement the mobile device page with these aspects in mind.
Context
A few years ago, users only used the desktop to surf the Internet. In recent years there has been a rapid increase in the number of users browsing the Internet on their smartphones. One of the reasons for this is the continuous development of mobile devices, as well as the necessary data infrastructure for this. A mobile device in 2018 has much more computing power than a desktop from the 1990s. The same applies to mobile data connections. Thanks to UMTS and LTE, even the most complex sites can be loaded easily.
Increasing use of the Internet with smartphones or tablets means that webmasters have to become increasingly concerned with how to make the most of their sites or apps for mobile users and improve the mobile device usability.
Even though mobile devices have improved a lot from a technical point of view, different requirements apply to these products compared to desktop computers.
They have smaller screens, less computing power, and often lower bandwidth despite having faster data connections. At the same time, these devices lack operational instruments such as keyboard and mouse. All functions must be performed using the touch screen, voice control, or motion sensors. All efforts in the field of mobile device usability are aimed at eliminating these "disturbances" through an intelligent design of apps or websites.
Key issues
The mobile device usability provides answers to key questions related to mobile apps and websites.
- Can users handle the main tasks with the application or the web portal?
- Is the gesture control intuitive and easy to understand?
- Can the app be used with enough mobile operating systems?
- Can they navigate easily and positively with a tablet or mobile device?
- Can separate forms or fields be filled in easily with the mobile device?
- Does responsive design work equally well on all devices?
Optimization approaches
- The mobile device usability it can be increased by optimizing some aspects.
- Use of buttons that can be easily touched.
- Use of a visible navigation, which is activated by pressing.
- Primary content placed in the spotlight.
- Avoid unnecessary data downloads.
- Compress images to reduce data transmission speed.
Check mobile device usability with Google Search Console
Since October 29, 2014, notifications about errors and optimization for mobile device usability are available in the Google Search Console. [1]
The prior requirement for the use of this information is the registration of your website in the Google Search Console.
Benefits for mobile device marketing
The mobile device usability can play an important role in mobile device marketing. If all processes on a web page are optimized for use with tablets or smartphones, it will positively affect the user experience. This, in turn, means that users can make purchases on mobile devices without hassle.
Providing content that works well for mobile devices can increase sales opportunities. More and more users are connecting to the network through mobile devices. Consequently, it is essential that webmasters optimize the content of their web portal for this type of use. Together with mobile device usabilityIt should also be on the task list for programmers and search engine optimizers.
Web Links
- Usability of mobile apps: review of the bibliography and justification of a new usability model
- Mobile usability guidelines
- First results of Mobile Usability
