Quality-in-use app evaluation: case of a recruitment app for Portuguese SMEs

E-Recruitment, a term that refers to online recruitment, has been increasingly adopted by companies that are prone to changes and ready to the constant evolution of society. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the impact of a recruitment application in Portugal. This application was developed to meet the needs of candidates and employers, and its evaluation is made in terms of quality-in-use by both parties, small and medium-sized companies in Portugal and potential job offers applicants. To achieve the results related to the defined objective, managers from six companies were interviewed, producing a qualitative evaluation of the application, accompanied by a survey to achieve its quantitative evaluation (3.36 in 4 points). Simultaneously, a quantitative study was carried out among the candidates for evaluation of the mobile application, 3.67 points out of 4 possible. Thus, it was verified that the application developed is suitable for candidates. However, despite the positive evaluation, recruiters point to improvements in the company module.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Usability Evaluation Model for Mobile Banking Applications Interface: Model Evaluation Process using Experts' Panel

Many of the existing usability evaluation models for mobile applications have not been evaluated to determine its usefulness, accuracy and applicability in to the real world environment. This may not provide confidence on the side of the evaluator and the results may not be comprehensive and valid. A model for evaluating the usability of mobile banking applications interface is developed in response to usability practitioners and mbanking applications developers’ needs. The experts implemented the model using various m-banking application platforms through heuristic evaluation method. A list of predefined validation measures were used by the experts’ in order to determine the accuracy and applicability of the proposed model. The results show that the model is useful, accurate and can be used for evaluating the usability of m-banking applications interface. Therefore, this paper will benefit both the research community and the usability practitioners towards better understanding of model validation process

Usability evaluation model for mobile banking applications interface: model evaluation process using experts’ panel

Many of the existing usability evaluation models for mobile applications have not been evaluated to determine its usefulness, accuracy and applicability in to the real world environment. This may not provide confidence on the side of the evaluator and the results may not be comprehensive and valid.A model for evaluating the usability of mobile banking applications interface is developed in response to usability practitioners and mbanking applications developers’ needs. The experts implemented the model using various m-banking application platforms through heuristic evaluation method. A list of predefined validation measures were used by the experts’ in order to determine the accuracy and applicability of the proposed model.The results show that the model is useful, accurate and can be used for evaluating the usability of m-banking applications interface. Therefore, this paper will benefit both the research community and the usability practitioners towards better understanding of model validation process

A comparison between web enhancer learners and blended learners in flipped classroom: A quasi-experimental approach

Blended learning integrates technologies in classroom activities.This development is considered as a strategic approach for digital native generation The exposure of the technology to this generation since the early age requires a new approach to leverage their capabilities in learning.Currently, in Malaysia, the education landscape promotes various approaches related with blended learning including flipped classroom.This situation indirectly confirms that there is no traditional learning in the universities, especially in the public universities. Unfortunately, most of the studies about online learning made comparison between online learning and traditional learning.Little of these studies focus about the differences of online interaction exposure has impact on students.Hence this aim of is study is to investigate the significant differences of online exposures among students in blended learning environment.Data were collected using non randomized quasi experimental approach among business students in a public university in Malaysia. Data analysis shows a mix result where there were significant differences between groups for satisfaction, effectiveness, efficiency and student interactions.However, there were no significant difference for student engagement and final result for both of the studied groups. Conclusion and recommendation also discussed in this article

Usability evaluation techniques in mobile commerce applications: A systematic review

Obviously, there are a number of literatures concerning the usability of mobile commerce (m-commerce) applications and related areas, but they do not adequately provide knowledge about usability techniques used in most of the empirical usability evaluation for m-commerce application. Therefore, this paper is aimed at producing the usability techniques frequently used in the aspect of usability evaluation for m-commerce applications. To achieve the stated objective, systematic literature review was employed. Sixty seven papers were downloaded in usability evaluation for m-commerce and related areas; twenty one most relevant studies were selected for review in order to extract the appropriate information. The results from the review shows that heuristic evaluation, formal test and think aloud methods are the most commonly used methods in m-commerce application in comparison to cognitive walkthrough and the informal test methods. Moreover, most of the studies applied control experiment (33.3% of the total studies); other studies that applied case study for usability evaluation are 14.28%. The results from this paper provide additional knowledge to the usability practitioners and research community for the current state and use of usability techniques in m-commerce application

A systematic review on usability evaluation methods for m-commerce apps

There are several literatures pertaining to the usability of mobile commerce (m-commerce) applications, however, these literatures do not sufficiently address issues about usability methods or adequately provide knowledge concerning usability methods used in most of the empirical usability evaluation for applications in m-commerce.Hence, this paper attempts to review available literatures with the aim of capturing the usability techniques commonly or frequently used in the domain of usability evaluation for applications in m-commerce. To achieve the stated research goal, the study applied systematic literature review methodology. Sixty seven (67) papers in the area of usability evaluation for m-commerce apps were downloaded. Out of these papers, twenty one (21) most relevant studies were selected for review in order to extract the appropriate information needed for the analysis. The results from the review reveal that heuristic evaluation, formal test and think-aloud methods are the most commonly utilized methods in m-commerce application usability evaluation compared to the cognitive walk through and informal test methods.In addition, most of the studies applied control experiment (33.30% of the total reviewed studies); other studies that applied case study in usability evaluation make up 14.28%. However, most of the studies reviewed, lacked comprehensive framework to demonstrate the applicability of other usability methods in m-commerce domain such as survey and field study.The results from this paper provide additional knowledge for usability practitioners, designers, developers, and the research community to know the current usability methods applied in m-commerce application evaluation

UTAUT-QiU: Technology Acceptance Evaluation Model with Integrated Quality-in-use for Mobile User Interfaces adapted for Low- and Post-literate users

Mobile technology evolution has greatly affected our lives, in terms of performing our daily tasks more efficiently and effectively. It includes recent advances in voice-enabled technology empowered by artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing. Then again, technology evolution has created a problem for low and post-literate population in terms of understanding and using mobile devices with complex functionality. Low- and post-literate individuals are the ones who have difficulties either reading a text or understanding a new technology. We propose a new technology acceptance evaluation model UTAUT-QiU with the aim of assessing both user acceptance of text free mobile applications’ user interface (MUI) and MUI’s quality-in-use. We intend to increase the quality-in-use of MUI for low- and post-literate users by applying text-free approach combined with voice as a service. UTAUT-QiU is inspired by UTAUT (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology) and integrates it with Quality-In-Use model for Mobile Applications. The UTAUT-QiU model is used to investigate empirically the effect of text free UI approach on low- and post-literate users in performing their daily tasks with the help of mobile applications

CON-INFO: A Context-based Methodology for Designing and Assessing the Quality of Adaptable MUIs in Healthcare Applications

Mobile technology is an integral part of the modern healthcare environment. The mobile user interface (MUI) serves as the bridge between the application and healthcare professionals. It is important that the physician be able to easily express his needs on the MUI and correctly interpret the information displayed. However, there are many challenges that face the designer in designing and developing context-sensitive MUIs in this environment. The adaptability of the MUI is considered to be one of the most important issues to address. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), MUI adaptability is a major problem in the healthcare context. For the designer, the hope is that new technologies will be developed, such as mobile devices adaptable to different environments, to enable customization of the application to the user’s context. In this thesis, we propose a new methodology for designing a context-based adaptable MUI for healthcare applications. This methodology offers a new approach to automated MUI context adaptation, and provides a solution for both the provider (designer) of the healthcare application and the consumer (physician). New techniques for adapting MUIs offer new opportunities for the MUI designer to maximize the benefits of mobile health technology by providing the best possible way for healthcare professionals to perform their tasks efficiently and effectively. The proposed methodology is based on research contributions in four areas: (1) a new quality-in-use measurement model for validation purposes; (2) user stereotype modeling with a set of context descriptors, which formalize the domain expertise of the users; (3) context information modeling; and (4) use of the decision table technique to adapt the MUI features based on the context and the user stereotypes. The proposed quality-in-use model is inspired by the ISO/IEC 25010 and ISO/IEC 25022 international standards and adapted to healthcare applications. The first contribution is used in validating the quality-in-use of a software product developed according to the CON-INFO methodology, and the last three contributions are linked to form a methodology for development. The MUI features adapted to the needs of healthcare professionals have been implemented on the iPhone™ for validation purposes. An example of software for medical application is the Phoenix Health Information System (PHIS), which is in use at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH). PHIS2 is an updated desktop version developed based on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) principles. A new mobile-based version of PHIS2 (PHIS2-M) has since been introduced, to make PHIS accessible from a mobile-based platform. The proposed context-based and rule-based approach for MUI feature adaptability resulted in a new version of PHIS2-M – PHIS2-MA (MA stands for mobile adaptation). This thesis validates the proposed methodology and clearly demonstrates its usefulness, providing details of the four empirical studies conducted with the end-users (physicians) in a real environment at the KAUH. The results of the formal studies reveal that our CON-INFO methodology for designing an adaptable MUI led to improvements to the current application and allowed researchers to test successive versions of the ‘final’ application