Specifications of Digital Devices and Impact Upon Usability

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Parent Category: Hardware
Category: Devices
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SYLLABUS 

  • specifications of digital devices and their impact upon usability  12 ATAR

VOCABULARY

  • specification = detailed description of design of a product
  • digital device = computer device small to large ie smartphone to supercomputer
  • usability = how well users can use something
  • usability of  digital devices = how successful it is for a user to work on a particular device

DETAILS

  • DESKTOP COMPUTERS
    • desktop computer, designed to interact via hardware. eg mouse and keyboard
    • desktop computer, interaction impersonal
    • desktop computer, need to sit down and use, or get a desk that is a lot higher to stand up and use
    • desktop computer, have a vertical screen so users can't easily interact with touch screens mode (if avail)
    • desktop computer, can't be moved, so can't be used away from their location
  • MOBILE TABLET AND SMARTPHONE
    • Hand held so can use in many locations
    • Hand held so must use one hand to hold and one hand to use
    • Touch screen when using user finger blocks part of the screen
    • touch screen, visual feedback needed for button pushing (can be audio click or button fade)
    • touch screen, large people have large fingers, small people have small fingers, difficult to use the device for some people
    • touch screen, different to mouse, drag and drop and right click functions are not obvious or sometimes not possible
    • touch screen, no cursor = no hover feedback
    • touch screen, direct interaction by touching the icon, more engaging than pointing with a mouse
  • OTHER SUCH AS AIRPORT KIOSK and ATM
  • custom design software on custom design hardware for one purpose = highly successful design
  • Kevin Matz <http://architectingusability.com/2012/08/19/the-impact-of-hardware-devices-on-software-ergonomics/> viewed 3 Feb, 2015 states the following.
    • For the majority of consumer and business applications, there are currently three main forms of general-purpose personal computing devices:
    • Desktop and laptop computers with a screen, keyboard, and a pointing device such as a mouse or trackpad, are comfortable for users sitting at a desk for a long period of time.
    • Tablet devices with touchscreens have a form factor that is comfortable for sitting and consuming content (reading webpages, watching movies, etc.), but entering information and creating content via touch-screen control is generally not as comfortable and convenient as with a desktop machine.
    • Mobile phones (and similar devices such as portable music players) are usually used for short bursts of activity while on the go.

FOR YOU TO DO

  1. Describe usability for desktop computers.
  2. Describe usability for touch screen devices
  3. What considerations do companies need when making tablets, smartphones and desktop computers.
  4. Go to the URL below and summarise the article in less than 50 words, using your own words.

http://www.nngroup.com/articles/hardware-specs-vs-user-experience/

 
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