Android Usability Testing Tips

Tips On Android Usability Testing

Usability for mobile apps is not the same for desktop apps. For mobile apps especially the input method, screen size and connection speed differs.

Ten General Principles for User Interface Design
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Visibility of system status
User control and freedom
Flexibility and efficiency of use
Help users recognize, diagnose and recover from errors
Error prevention

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Match between system and the real world
Consistency and standards
Recognition rather than recall
Aesthetic and minimalist design
Help and Documentation

If you need Mobile Testing Services you may contact Indus Net Technologies (www.indusnet.co.uk/mobile/)

Android Guidelines and Tips

Touch

. Sidebars are not easy to use on touchscreens
. Fingerprints are more visible on darker backgrounds
. There must be a way to go back or undo an action, as touching the wrong item is done quickly
. The full screen should be used
. Common operations directly visible on screen
. Minimize keyboard input

Icons & Buttons

. Buttons should have the right size and be suitable to big fingers
. Buttons should remain in the same place of the screen to avoid confusion
. Natural and consistent icons
. Buttons that have the same function should have the same color

Text

. keep text simple and clear
. Short sentences and paragraphs are better readable
. The usage of headers will make a text better readable
. Bullets for lists will make a text better readable
. Typing text in a text box should start with an uppercase letter
. The font size should be big enough, not too big and not too small


Menu

Contextual menus are used very often, it should not be overloaded because it has to be used quickly

Messages

. Confirmation messages should be avoided, a click performs the action directly
. When the app starts downloading a lot of data, the user should be warned

Android Testing Tips

Use a real Android phone, not an emulator. Some things you just can’t know if you run an app on an emulator.

Mobile apps are most often used in short snippets of time and will be opened and closed many times. Therefore, test the closing of the app from different states and check if it re-opens in the same state.

If possible try testing the app on different Android devices an operating system versions.

End users typically find more problems (bugs) than a limited set of testers, so let other users (family/friends) help. Research has shown that 6-9 users is most efficient.

If you have decided to involve more users, search for different types of users. For example, users with a different age, handicap or experience can find other usability problems. Bear in mind the target audience for the mobile application.

Android detects a change in orientation when the user turns the device so that the display is “landscape” (long edge is horizontal) instead of “portrait” (long edge is vertical). Perform this in different states and check if the screen and state is still the same.

Designed by:
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D E S I G N T E A M
MARCH 2012 Tips On Android Usability Testing Usability for mobile apps is not the same for desktop apps. For mobile apps especially the input method, screen size and connection speed differs. Ten General Principles for User Interface Design Help and documentation Visibility of system status Match between system and the real world Flexibility and efficiency of use Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors User control and freedom Error prevention Aesthetic and minimalist design Consistency and standards Recognition rather than recall If you need Mobile Testing Services you may contact Indus Net Technologies (www.indusnet.co.uk/mobile/) Android Guidelines and Tips Touch Icons & Buttons • Buttons should have the right size and be suitable to big fingers • Sidebars are not easy to use on touchscreens • Fingerprints are more visible on darker backgrounds • Buttons should remain in the same place of the screen to avoid confusion • There must be a way to go back or undo an action, as touching the wrong item is done quickly • The full screen should be used • Natural and consistent icons • Buttons that have the same function should have the same color • Common operations directly visible on screen • Minimize keyboard input Menu Text Contextual menus are used very often, it should not be overloaded because it has to be used quickly • Keep text simple and clear • Short sentences and paragraphs are better readable • The usage of headers will make a text better readable • Bullets for lists will make a text better readable • Typing text in a text box should start with an uppercase letter Messages • The font size should be big enough, not too big and not too small • Confirmation messages should be avoided, a click performs the action directly • When the app starts downloading a lot of data, the user should be warned Android Testing Tips Use a real Android phone, not an emulator. Some things you just can't know if you run an app on an emulator. Mobile apps are most often used in short snippets of time and will be opened and closed many times. Therefore, test the closing of the app from different states and check if it re-opens in the same state. If possible try testing the app on different Android devices an operating system versions. End users typically find more problems (bugs) than a limited set of testers, so let other users (family/friends) help. Research has shown that 6-9 users is most efficient. If you have decided to involve more users, search for different types of users. For example, users with a different age, handicap or experience can find other usability problems. Bear in mind 'the target audience for the mobile application. Android detects a change in orientation when the user turns the device so that the display is "landscape" (long edge is horizontal) instead of "portrait" (long edge is vertical). Perform this in different states añd check if the screen and state is still the same. Source: www.mobileapptesting.com Designed by : InfoGraphic DESI GN TEA MU MARCH 2012