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We didn’t had access to the users database of Bicimia. This is a sensitive information that is not public. It was decided to create 4 personas in the age range from 15 to 34 years that corresponds to 20,4% of Brescia's population ¹. Based on that we created 4 user profiles.
Usability evaluation of desktop environments has been widely studied and mobile browsing from smartphones and tablets present new usability challenges ². It was performed a heuristic evaluation centered in mobile interfaces based on a checklist, that includes a compilation of recommended guidelines that takes usability into account - sub heuristics.
Mobile interactions define a new paradigm characterised by a wide range of specific constraints: hardware limitations, context of use, type of tasks, limited processing capability and power, etc ³.
A mobile-specific usability heuristic checklist with a final compilation of heuristics that was used as a tool to evaluate usability of mobile interfaces. Composed by 230 questions with possible answers “yes/no/NA”. The number of “yes” answers provides a measure of the usability of the interface. The resulting usability rate for Bicimia was 48,9% based on items with positive evaluation.
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The 0 to 4 rating scale was be used to rate the severity of usability problems: (0) unimportant, (1) aesthetic, (2) simple, (3) severe, (4) Catastrophic ⁴. The classification was a list of 11 points with sub points regarding to Public Transport System
(1) Find and present stations by both map and list view; (2) Create a route to the nearest station; (3) Check the number of available bikes and docks on stations; (4) Register/Login.
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After consenting to participate, the users were led to a quiet indoor space and the evaluators used contextual observation and Think Aloud technique⁵. Our group of users has age between 18 and 34 years, use public transport and study and/or work. For 60% of this group the most used public transport is subway and for 40% is bus, and all group uses shared bikes. 60% self considered advanced users and 40% intermediate. They satisfaction level is distributed between (40%) unsatisfied, (20%) neutral and (40%) satisfied. 80% of this group affirmed that knows how to use all the functions of the application. The Bicimia application meet the needs of all users, this result is contradictory when comparing with the satisfaction indicators.
The post test-test questionnaire was based on Computer System Usability Questionnaire (QSUQ)⁶ and Questionnaire for User Interface Satisfaction (QUIS)⁷. Finally, users responded to the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM)⁸.
It was noticed that the users recognise the usefulness and relevance of the provided information, and for this reason, they face the usability problems with tolerance, even if they negatively affect their experience with the application. Changes in the UI affected positively the UX. Improvements in the sequence of screens, organisation of information and visual elements have generated an increase in users’ feelings of pleasure, dominance and security.