Mobile Phone Guidelines

An ever increasing range of mobile phones are appearing on the market, each with their own features, designs and interfaces. Our experience suggests that, despite their many differences, there are some user interface requirements common to all mobile phones.

Lucy Stockbridge & Azia Mughal , 9 July 2007.

Mobile TV design guidelines

Serco Usability Services has been investigating how users react to this first generation of mobile television products through recent independent research studies. The findings of the studies have helped to inform a set of design guidelines which are available by clicking the link above. 

We have also developed a workshop based on the findings of our research, which looks in detail at methods for designing and conducting user research for emerging technologies. Find out about our Mobile TV workshop.

Download the presentation Lucy Stockbridge gave at Euro ITV 2006 in May: Mobile TV: Experience of the UK Vodafone and Sky service.

Lucy Stockbridge and Sara Kincla, May 2006.

Design guidelines for in-car GPS navigation systems

Serco Usability Services carried out independent research to investigate usability issues in the design of in-car GPS navigation systems. These guidelines highlight potential issues.

Gemma Boguslawski and Ben Weedon, May 2005.

Playing Away: Design Lessons for Handheld Gaming

The hardware being released during 2005 offers a range of new features and possibilities in terms of games design. But is it all good news for the consumer? In an ongoing programme of research Serco Usability Services has examined the latest handheld games machines and produced this set of design guidelines, relevant to all manufacturers and developers in the field.

Owen Daly-Jones, March 2005.

It's All In Hand: Design Guidelines for Designing Remote Controls

Serco Usability Services has pioneered usability research into digital television services, working with a variety of TV applications, set-top-boxes, and remote controls. One of the immediately apparent issues is that there is no common approach to designing remote controls. In recognition of this, this document highlights some of the lessons we have learnt and presents guidelines that can be used to help design and evaluate remote controls. 

Owen Daly-Jones, January 2005.

Online Music Stores: Usability Guidelines

Serco Usability Services consultants conducted expert reviews of popular online music stores. The results were combined and used to produce the following set of guidelines to be used in conjunction with standard web design and usability guidelines when developing online music services.

Sara Kincla and Azia Mughal, January 2005.

Designing a registration process for online gaming: Usability guidelines

In an independent study, Serco Usability Services (SUS) evaluated the process of registering to play online gaming. The process was evaluation on the two most popular online games consoles. The findings are presented here as a set of general guidelines. 

Mike Lewis and Ben Weedon, February 2004.

Interactive Courseware

Educators are always looking for the best ways to use computer technology to help students learn. In June 2003, Serco Usability Services conducted an independent research project looking at one such project, an intermediate Czech course produced on CD-ROM.

Andrew Swartz, June 2003.

On-line Banking and Insurance Services

Serco Usability Services evaluated a range of well known banking and insurance web sites using potential customers. The study revealed a number of issues which are important to the design of online financial and insurance services that are presented here as a set of general guidelines.

Kathryn McDonnell, January 2000.

iTV and Electronic Programme Guides: Guidelines

In a programme of independent research, Serco Usability Services evaluated the EPGs used to provide TV listings on the UK digital television platforms - SKY and ONdigital. The findings are presented here as a set of general guidelines to support those developing or commissioning EPGs on all digital TV platforms.

Owen Daly-Jones, January 2000.

Designing WAP services

In January 2000, Serco Usability Services carried out an independent usability evaluation of WAP services available in the UK using a Nokia 7110. This paper reports the findings of the evaluation including consumer reactions to the WAP service, and the implications of the findings for the uptake of mobile commerce (m-commerce).

Vincent Helyar, January 2000.

On-line Stores

Serco Usability Services evaluated a range of well known on-line stores with consumers. The studies revealed a number of issues which are important for the design of a successful on-line shop. They are presented here as a set of general guidelines.

Owen Daly-Jones, January 2000.

On-line Holiday and Flight Booking Services

Serco Usability Services evaluated a range of well known holiday and flight booking web sites with potential customers. This study revealed a number of issues, which are important to the design of online holiday booking sites and are presented here a set of general guidelines.

Kathryn McDonnell, January 2000.