Title: Adaptive mobile web interface: user readiness in context

Authors: Zhe Qu; Jun Sun

Addresses: School of Management, Fudan University, 670 Guoshun Road, Shanghai 200433, China. ' College of Business Administration, University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 W University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA

Abstract: Despite the technological advances in adapting web user interfaces to the small display of handhelds, the role that task nature plays in the formation of user attitude towards adaptive interface designs remains largely unknown. This study compares user readiness towards adaptive web interface design under different task contexts. Capturing such a situated user attitude is valuable for the designers of mobile websites to engage in user-centred design, enhance user experiences, and ultimately improve the viability of mobile information services. Based on a review of relevant theoretical frameworks, a research model was hypothesised and tested with experimental data. The results support the concept that mobile users are generally positive about adaptive interface design, and their preferences are more salient for complex tasks than for routine tasks.

Keywords: mobile communications; handheld web access; adaptive interface design; information systems; interaction readiness; task context; web user interfaces; handheld devices; user attitudes; mobile websites; web design; mobile services; m-services.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2012.045670

International Journal of Mobile Communications, 2012 Vol.10 No.2, pp.132 - 149

Published online: 29 Feb 2012 *

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