Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu. Com paring Older and Younger - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu. Com paring Older and Younger Novice Users Martina Ziefle and Susanne Bay Department of Psychology RWTH Aachen University

Purpose of the Study • Find out reasons for older users‘ bigger difficulties using mobile phones compared to younger users by • Assessing users‘ mental model of the mobile phone menu and • Finding connections between mental models and performance using the mobile phone 2 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Mental m odels of a m obile phone m enu • Parallels with spatial representations 3 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Mental m odels of a m obile phone m enu • Landmarks Menu Phone Book Messages Settings Call Settings Send own number 4 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Mental m odels of a m obile phone m enu • Route Knowledge 5 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Mental m odels of a m obile phone m enu • Survey Knowledge 6 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Method • 16 young and 16 older novice mobile phone users • Processing of 4 tasks on a mobile phone simulated on a touchscreen according to menu and navigation keys of the Nokia 3210 or the Siemens C35i • Online logging of user actions on keystroke level 7 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Method • Cognitive mapping of menu structure through card sorting technique • 22 cards corresponding to menu items of the branch to be used when solving the task of hiding the own number 8 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Cognitive Mapping of the Menu • Menu branch used when hiding the own number Phone Book Messages Call register Call divert GamesCalculator Time Sounds Settings Call settings Phone settings Security settings Restore factory settings Autom answer Automatic redial Speed dialling Call waiting Send own number Used line Set by network on off Nokia 3210 . . 9 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Results • Cognitive maps are analysed regarding the three types of knowledge relevant in spatial orientation - Survey knowledge - Route knowledge - Landmarks • Interrelations between correctness of mental representation and performance using the mobile phone are reported 10 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Survey Know ledge • Did participants have a correct representation of the overall structure of the phone menu? Mental representation of cellular phone menu hierarchical non hierarchical 20-32 years ( N = 16) 16 0 50-64 years ( N = 16) 12 4 11 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Survey Know ledge 100 100 300 300 276.7 276.7 89.7 89.7 -27% -40% 90 90 250 250 80 80 65.5 65.5 197.2 197.2 70 70 time on task [sec] solved %] tasks solved [%] 200 200 60 60 k 50 50 150 150 40 40 100 100 30 30 20 20 50 50 10 10 0 0 0 0 hierarchical hierarchical non hierarchical hierarchical hierarchical hierarchical non hierarchical hierarchical mental representation of mental representation mental representation of mental representation menu menu menu menu 12 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Survey Know ledge • Did participants have a correct representation of the depth of the phone menu? Number of menu levels in the mental representation 0-1 level 2 levels 3 levels 4 levels 5 levels 20-32 years ( N = 16) 0 3 5 6 2 50-64 years ( N = 16) 4 9 1 1 1 13 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Survey Know ledge 234.4 234.4 250 250 120 120 -13% -113% 96.4 96.4 100 100 200 200 84.0 84.0 ] time on task [sec] ] tasks solved [%] 80 80 150 150 d time on t s [ 60 60 109.9 109.9 l 100 100 40 40 t 50 50 20 20 0 0 0 0 correct incorrect correct incorrect mental representation of representation mental representation of mental menu depth menu depth menu depth menu depth 14 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Route Know ledge • Is the path to be taken represented in user’s mental model? Correct mappings in the representation of the route 0 1 2 3 4 20-32 years ( N = 16) 0 1 5 8 2 50-64 years ( N = 16) 6 4 4 2 0 15 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Route Know ledge 120 120 300 300 -15% -77% 247.6 247.6 95.8 95.8 100 100 250 250 81.3 81.3 time on task [sec] c] tasks solved [%] tasks solved [%] 80 80 200 200 k 139.8 139.8 60 60 150 150 e on 40 40 100 100 ti 20 20 50 50 0 0 0 0 mostly correct mostly incorrect mostly incorrect mostly correct mostly correct mostly incorrect mostly incorrect mental representation of mental representation mental representation of mental the route the route the route the route 16 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Landm ark Know ledge • Are salient features of the menu branch mentally represented ? 20-32 years ( N = 16) M = 14.4 of 22 functions 50-64 years ( N = 16) M = 4.5 of 22 functions 17 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Landm ark Know ledge 110 500 500 100 400 400 100 90 300 300 90 time on task [sec] time on task [sec] 80 200 200 tasks solved [%] 80 tasks solved [%] 70 100 100 70 60 60 0 0 3,00 3,00 6,00 6,00 8,00 8,00 10,00 10,00 12,00 12,00 15,00 15,00 ,00 ,00 4,00 4,00 7,00 7,00 9,00 9,00 11,00 11,00 13,00 13,00 17,00 17,00 4,00 4,00 7,00 7,00 9,00 9,00 11,00 11,00 13,00 13,00 17,00 17,00 3,00 3,00 6,00 6,00 8,00 8,00 10,00 10,00 12,00 12,00 15,00 15,00 number of correct mappings number of correct mappings number of correct mappings number of correct mappings 18 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

Conclusions • Parallels between mental maps of a mobile phone menu and natural environment can be drawn • Different types of knowledge – landmarks, routes and survey knowledge - seem to be relevant for effective and efficient interaction with the device 19 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu

I m plications for the design of m obile phones • The spatial nature of the mobile phone menu needs to be made more transparent by • Including spatial maps of the menu in the manual • Providing graphical hints on the phone‘s display 20 Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu