|
News
Issue #2001 - 19
(May 2001)
(Updated May
5, 2001)
MARKET
OUTLOOK
Usability for Mobile Devices and Services Brought to You by IBC
Global Conferences
IBC Global Conferences,
Ltd., will be holding a three-day conference ‘Usability for Mobile
Devices and Services,’ which is part of its Handset Technology
series. It will take place on May 9th and 10th
with a post conference workshop on the 11th at the
Radisson Portman Hotel in London.
With so much hype focused on emerging wireless technologies and
strategic partnerships, one essential factor appears to be getting
lost is providing a good user experience—one that is better than
existing alternatives, namely the Web. In workshops, panel
discussions, and keynote addresses, 27 industry experts will address
a wide range of topics, including designing devices and services for
a culturally diverse market segment; using voice in telemetric
services; balancing security with usability of m-commerce services;
designing a user-friendly interface for mobile devices; and using
emerging input technologies to enhance user experience.
IBC is hoping to attract a diverse audience including mobile
operators, mobile applications developers, device manufacturers,
user interface designers, human factor engineers, and ergonomics
specialists.
Highlights
- ‘Architecting the Mobile Information Society for Users’
by Christian Lindholm, director, User Interfaces, Nokia Mobile
Phones. The address will discuss some of the challenges in
designing mobile interfaces and services
- ‘How are Consumers Blessed with Merits of New Technology’
by Kazuyuki Mori, manager of Service Product Group, J-Phone
- Post Conference Workshop: ‘Getting WAP To Work’
- Addressing some of the challenges WAP developers face such
as how to get value from their applications despite the
limited screen size, bandwidth, and input methods of mobile
phones
- Targeting a devise group from developers to product managers
and marketing directors
For more information: http://www.handsettech.com/usability/?source=pmnusab
Mobileinfo Comments and Advisory: We
bring attention to the conference for one simple fact that for too
long, we have avoided this issue. Success of m-commerce is highly
dependent on finding solution to this important problem of user
interface. More than anything else, we need standardization in the
interface. With every vendor coming up with its own view of thumb
wheels, keys and their placements, the consumers are upset with
changing their habits every time they are forced to buy a new smart
phone. Let us learn from the simplicity of "POTS"
interface and well-advertised awkwardness of "setting up the
VCR" in the consumer electronics industry. Do the handset
manufacturers believe that we have acquired more intelligent brains
today than yester years and that we can continuously learn a
different way of doing simple tasks of recalling saved numbers on a
cell phone? They may call it differentiation and more intuitive
interface but we call it lack of understanding of human psychology
by high-tech interface designers. Children can learn any interface
that you give them but not all devices are targeted towards
children.
Note: This news release may contain
forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in
developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology
architectures. All trademarks used in this summary are
the property of their respective owners.
|
