Usability Evaluation Methods for Mobile Applications

abstract Evaluating mobile applications and devices is particularly challenging given the variability of users, uses, and environments involved. This chapter introduces usability evaluation methods (UEMs) for mobile applications. Over the past decades various usability evaluation methods have been developed and implemented to improve and assure easy-to-use user interfaces and systems. Since most of the so-called 'classical' methods have demonstrated shortcomings when used in the field of mobile applications, they were broadened, varied, and changed to meet the demands of testing usability for mobile applications. This chapter presents a selection of these 'classical' methods and introduces some methodological variations for testing usability in the area of mobile devices and applications. It argues for a combination of both field evaluation methods and traditional laboratory testing to cover different phases in the user-centered design and development process.