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

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 2

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

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 3

Mental m odels of a m obile phone m enu

• Parallels with spatial representations

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 4

Mental m odels of a m obile phone m enu

• Landmarks

Settings Call Settings Send own number Menu Phone Book Messages

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 5

Mental m odels of a m obile phone m enu

• Route Knowledge

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 6

Mental m odels of a m obile phone m enu

• Survey Knowledge

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 7

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

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 8

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

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 9

Cognitive Mapping of the Menu

• Menu branch used when hiding the own number

Phone Book Settings GamesCalculator Time Sounds Messages Call register Call divert

. Phone Restore factory settings Call settings Automatic redial Speed dialling Call waiting Send own number Set by network

• n
• ff

Used line Autom answer . settings Security settings

Nokia 3210

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 10

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

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 11

Survey Know ledge

• Did participants have a correct representation
• f the overall structure of the phone menu?

Mental representation of cellular phone menu hierarchical non hierarchical

20-32 years (N = 16)

16

50-64 years (N = 16)

12 4

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 12

Survey Know ledge

89.7 65.5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 hierarchical non hierarchical

mental representation of menu tasks solved [%]

197.2 276.7 50 100 150 200 250 300 hierarchical non hierarchical

mental representation of menu time on task [sec]

89.7 65.5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 hierarchical hierarchical

mental representation menu solved %]

197.2 276.7 50 100 150 200 250 300 hierarchical hierarchical

mental representation menu k

• 27%
• 40%

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 13

Survey Know ledge

• Did participants have a correct representation
• f 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)

3 5 6 2

50-64 years (N = 16)

4 9 1 1 1

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 14

Survey Know ledge

96.4 84.0

20 40 60 80

100 120

correct incorrect mental representation of menu depth tasks solved [%]

109.9 234.4 50 100 150 200 250

correct incorrect mental representation of menu depth time on task [sec]

96.4 84.0

20 40 60 80

100 120

representation menu depth t l d ]

109.9 234.4 50 100 150 200 250

mental menu depth time on t s [ ]

• 13%
• 113%

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 15

Route Know ledge

• Is the path to be taken represented in user’s

mental model?

Correct mappings in the representation of the route 1 2 3 4

20-32 years (N = 16)

1 5 8 2

50-64 years (N = 16)

6 4 4 2

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 16

Route Know ledge

95.8 81.3 20 40 60 80 100 120

mostly correct mostly incorrect

mental representation of the route tasks solved [%]

139.8 247.6 50 100 150 200 250 300

mostly correct mostly incorrect

mental representation of the route time on task [sec]

95.8 81.3 20 40 60 80 100 120

mostly incorrect

mental representation the route tasks solved [%]

139.8 247.6 50 100 150 200 250 300

mostly correct mostly incorrect

mental the route ti e on k c]

• 15%
• 77%

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 17

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

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 18

Landm ark Know ledge

number of correct mappings

17,00 15,00 13,00 12,00 11,00 10,00 9,00 8,00 7,00 6,00 4,00 3,00

tasks solved [%]

110 100 90 80 70 60

number of correct mappings

17,00 15,00 13,00 12,00 11,00 10,00 9,00 8,00 7,00 6,00 4,00 3,00 ,00

time on task [sec]

500 400 300 200 100

number of correct mappings

17,00 15,00 13,00 12,00 11,00 10,00 9,00 8,00 7,00 6,00 4,00 3,00

tasks solved [%]

100 90 80 70 60

number of correct mappings

17,00 15,00 13,00 12,00 11,00 10,00 9,00 8,00 7,00 6,00 4,00 3,00 ,00

time on task [sec]

500 400 300 200 100

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 19

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

Mental Models of a Cellular Phone Menu 20

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