User-Centered Design of Mobile Geo-Applications

Abstract

One purpose of this chapter is to inform about the geographic aspects that make mobile geo-applications different from other mobile software applications: (1) positioning techniques (like GPS) with which mobile devices may be localized in geographic space; (2) access to additional geographic attribute data; and (3) the representation of geographic information by means of maps on the display screen of the mobile device. Another objective of this chapter is to highlight the relevance of use and user (and not just usability) research in system and mobile software engineering and to describe the application of various research methods and techniques in a user-centered design approach. The characteristics of a mobile geo-application and the implementation of a user-centered design approach are illustrated by means of a research case study aiming at the development of more usable navigation systems for pedestrians.