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Minimal Criteria: Minimizing User Input and User Interface for Faster Output in Minimalistic Mobile Applications

Maddirala, Sumanth
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1560867841585446

Abstract Details

2019, MS, University of Cincinnati, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Information Technology.
Minimalistic design has reduced complexity in much of the technology we use today making it accessible to a wider audience of users. The principles of minimalistic design are especially impactful for the design of mobile applications, the most successful of which attempt to minimize the amount of user input needed to provide users with information they are seeking. Many mobile applications leverage affordances of smartphones to reduce user input, such as GPS to deduce location, but a challenge is presented when designing a minimalist application that is based on a process that typically requires a great deal of user input. This thesis works to address this challenge by engaging end users in a process to identify the Minimal Criteria necessary for users to input in order to achieve desired output from a mobile application. Minimal criteria is a novel concept applied to the design work in this thesis and can benefit other mobile applications that require a large amount of user input. A user-driven process to identify minimal criteria is described in this thesis by leveraging the RoomUP mobile application as a testbed. One context where a great deal of user input is typically necessary is roommate matching. This study seeks to reduce the complexity involved in the roommate matching process by applying principles of minimalism. Universities traditionally make use of mailed forms that ask students to answer many non-research-based questions to determine roommate compatibility. Unfortunately, this traditional process is viewed by today’s students as tedious and often produces inaccurate results. This thesis begins with a review of roommate compatibility studies that help identify variables that are proven to result in effective matching such as cleanliness, noise levels, and sleeping habits. It then leverages these variables in a design activity with end users of a roommate matching mobile application. RoomUP is an existing mobile application that helps match students with one another and properties available in their local area. This app is presented to users in this research to help them begin thinking about ways to minimize user input. The resulting minimal criteria is then applied to the design of the app. The RoomUP research study consists of two research phases. The first engages users in a review of roommate compatibility variables and works to collaboratively reduce the number necessary to match roommates and still produce a high-quality match. The end result of this process is the minimal criteria necessary for user input in RoomUP. Users then engage in the co-design of the mobile user interface. The second phase of research verifies the RoomUP user interface to ensure it meets the intended design goals using a survey. Results of this study describe minimal criteria for roommate matching (Cleanliness, Room Time, Noise Levels, Sleeping Habits, and Number of Visitors) and design decisions that were implemented for execution in a mobile interface.
Jess Kropczynski, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
James Scott (Committee Member)
80 p.
Information Technology
Minimalist Design; Roommate Matching; Mobile Applications; Participatory Design; Roommate Compatibility; Minimalism

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Maddirala, S. (2019). Minimal Criteria: Minimizing User Input and User Interface for Faster Output in Minimalistic Mobile Applications [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1560867841585446

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Maddirala, Sumanth. Minimal Criteria: Minimizing User Input and User Interface for Faster Output in Minimalistic Mobile Applications. 2019. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1560867841585446.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Maddirala, Sumanth. "Minimal Criteria: Minimizing User Input and User Interface for Faster Output in Minimalistic Mobile Applications." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1560867841585446

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1560867841585446
308
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.