Create with Context did a study on iphone usability by “regular” users, new users, and non-users. There were some interesting things I observed from the presentation:
- touchscreen interfaces really benefit from good feedback and good button placement
- visual trims like shadows, bevels, icon quality and transparency can help communicate affordance
- smartphones can get overly complicated due to inconsistencies like modes
- iphones use good metaphors (natural-feel scrolling) but it can be implemented in a way that confuses people
- you just can’t assume anything about users, sometimes
Take a look at the presentation below:
