Akseli Anttila

Designing for the evolution of mobile contacts application

We describe the design drivers, prototype and one-month field study results of a mobile contacts application incorporating new features and design elements. The design was inspired by 8 hypotheses on the potential new uses of a mobile contacts application. A total of 16 users from varying age groups and prior experiences with mobile phones participated in the trial of a prototype application running on Series 60 platform. The results of the user trial show that allowing personalization and reflection of own communication behavior are key factors motivating users to explore new usage of Contacts application. We also discuss a cultivator vs. communicator dimension of user preference towards contacts application use observed during the trial.

Discovering design drivers for mobile media solutions

We conducted user studies in 2000 and 2004 into digital media use, and discovered a number of constant findings even though the studies were separate both in geographically and chronologically. These constant findings, which we call design drivers, represent high level user benefits and constraints which are not likely to change quickly. We feel that knowledge of these constant drivers is beneficial in designing key features of mobile media devices. On the other hand, findings specific to a particular environment, variable design drivers, help to identify potential enablers and obstacles of product adoption.

Creation and application of mobile media design drivers

In this paper, we describe how we used user studies, interviews and ethnographic methods to create a set of general design drivers for media consumption in a mobile context of use, and applied them to a particular media domain: data enhanced mobile FM radio. We designed and evaluated a number of application concepts on showing FM radio program related information in different parts of the mobile phone UI. Our evaluation results showed that users wanted to quickly and easily see at least the artist and the song name of the current playing song. We also show that it is beneficial to use general design drivers to assist domain specific design work.

Towards an optimal information architecture model for mobile multimedia devices

In this paper we propose an optimal information architecture model for mobile multimedia devices. In our study we first reviewed the information architecture models of four currently popular mobile multimedia devices, Apple iPod Video, Nokia N80, Sony Ericsson W800i and Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP). Then we used Open card sorting method to find out what kind of mental models does people have for optimal information architecture model. Finally we compared these two study results together and created a design proposal.

Mobile Communications Versus Pervasive Communications: The Role of Handhelds

The intent of this panel is to stimulate discussion around the design of HCI for handhelds and related applications in pervasive communication scenarios. The panel will create a provocative framework for future interactive communications and will generate a debate with the audience around the emerging and contentious topic of using mobile devices as main interfaces in a ubiquitous communication experience. It is expected that the panelists will promote inter-disciplinary and multidisciplinary discussion about a range of HCI issues including: management of multiple user interactions, interaction between mobile phones and other devices, the development of usable design models for convergent media, special HCI considerations around media sharing, new applications and new forms of interactive content more suitable in pervasive communication contexts. Other ethical, legal, business and social implications of ubiquitous communications may also be raised. Short position statements will be followed by moderated debate between panelists that will be open to questions from the floor stimulating high interaction with the audience. The panel will conclude with a summarization of the most relevant outcomes of the discussion.