Course Overview

This course presents the positive commercial benefits of mobile usability and provides learning's, through real life examples, of the impact of poor usability has on both the end user and the developmental organisation, and how to build-in tangible and cost effective improvements.

Who is the course for?

The course is designed for:

• Mobile web developers
• Designers
• Marketing specialists

irrespective of your usability grounding.

What will I learn?

The course looks at a number of areas:

1. The business case - Why have a mobile site?

• If you have ever asked the question ‘why’ then this section will assist in clarifying this
• Facts and figures showing the growth of the mobile web
• The technical requirements for the mobile web
• How it differs from the desktop web.

2. Design principles for the mobile web

• What makes a usable mobile website?
• Information architecture and how this can be optimised for the mobile web
• Navigation and IA differences between the mobile and desktop web
• Workshop: creating a persona that can be used during your design process. This persona will include environment of use, handset and types of user.

3. Comparing good and bad mobile websites

• Using various travel, financial services sites we compare the features and content that help distinguish a good site from another in a similar sector. Focus on the BBC site and what makes the BBC a good mobile site
• Side by side review of the desktop and mobile versions of various sites. What have the organisation done to create the mobile site ie. What have the maintained and what have they designed out of the site
• Review of ‘apps’ and how they differ from a mobile website. Debate & discussion over the differences, pros & cons of ‘apps’ vs. mobile web sites and when each should be used.

4. Browsers and technical platforms

• The differences in browsers and the impact on the display of mobile websites.
• Walk-through a case study of design process for a mobile web site (autotrader.mobi). This includes the original design phases and what has been changed over time. Review of a variety of competitor mobile sites to show and ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ for the Autotrader site.
• Ways of rapidly creating mobile sites - mobifyme

5. Safari and the iPhone

• The iPhone and the Safari browser were a step change in the mobile user experience. Discussion of the UX aspects of these and what has this means for the industry.

6. How to conduct usability testing of a mobile website.

• Key differences between desktop and mobile usability testing
• Methods and metrics for success
• Technology, methodologies, cameras, emulation software and other resources that can be used.

7. Workshop – delegates create a mobile version of a web site (paper based).

• This activity will draw on the previous learnings and will include a homepage and 1-2 levels down. This will be based on a specific task that would have been created with the persona earlier.

8. Wrap-up and summary of what has be learned during the course.

About the Trainer

Mark Westwater is qualified with a BSc. (Hons.) in Applied Biological Sciences from Napier University in Edinburgh, an MSc. (Eng.) in Work Design and Ergonomics at the University of Birmingham and is currently studying for an MBA.

Mark has over 11 years experience applying User Centred Design (UCD) methodologies to product developments. Prior to joining User Vision Mark worked for NCR, the world leader in Automated Teller Machines (ATM) Research and Development. His primary focus was to plan and support both hardware and software developments as well as conducting research in future technologies. This included mobile based application design and Voice Recognition system evaluation. Mark was also responsible for developing and implementing a UCD process into the engineering organisation. Mark has extensive experience in the field of accessibility and has been a representative on various accessibility committees in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK, developing standards that meet both the consumers’ needs and current technology trends.

He has been a Registered Member of the Ergonomics Society for the last 11 years and is currently the membership secretary of the Scottish Ergonomics Forum. Mark is also a Member of the Usability Professional’s Association. He has published a number of research papers and has several filed patents in both the security and accessibility fields. In 2001 Mark won the ‘Eureka’ award for innovation.

What are the costs?

The cost of this unique full day course is just £300 +VAT and we are offering a special early bird rate of £250 +VAT for bookings made before the 15th March 2010. Lunch and all course materials will be provided.

Terms and conditions

User Vision reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a training course at any time. In the unlikely event of this occurring, we will endeavor to give as much advanced notice as possible, if such an event occurs a full refund will be issued. We do not take responsibility of any additional costs or expenses due to a cancelled or rescheduled course.

Cancellation fees apply: 4-7 days notice - 50% refund; 3 working days or less - no refund

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Other course dates available

London: 1st April 2010 9.30am to 5.00pm