7 Usability Guidelines for Websites on Mobile Devices
By Abid Warsi2008-01-30
4. Make user input as simple as possible
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Allow users to input information by making selections instead of entering free text (or at least provide this as an alternative method). Entering text on a mobile phone can be painfully slow and error-prone on the typical 12 button mobile keypad. Mobile users are more likely to make mistakes (due to misspelling or mistyping) or take shortcuts. Sets of well thought out links on quick loading pages can be very usable.
On Thomson Local, for example, it isn't possible to browse businesses or locations. Users tend to abbreviate search terms (i.e. business type) which leads to inappropriate search results. The Odeon's mobile site allows users to find a cinema by searching or browsing. Users that search often make more mistakes than those that browse, the latter usually finding what they're after by only selecting 2 links.
Users make errors when trying to type long text on Thomson Local.
Users can however quickly browse to the right cinema using Odeon's Cinema List.
Tutorial Pages:
» Introduction
» 1. Meet users' needs quickly
» 2. Don't repeat the navigation on every page
» 3. Clearly distinguish selected items
» 4. Make user input as simple as possible
» 5. Only show essential information
» 6. Place basic browsing controls on the page
» 7. Design mobile-friendly page layouts
» In a nutshell
