iPad Apps Usability Studies from Nielsen-Norman Group

You think the iPad is really “usable” and “intuitive”? Read this report from the leading Usability experts of Nielsen-Norman Group written by Jakob Nielsen himself. You’ll be surprised at his findings and might even agree with him.

If you don’t want to read the long report, Jakob has written a summarized version of his findings – iPad Usability: First Findings From User Testing

Download the report:
Usability of iPad Apps and Websites: First Research Findings

Table of Contents:

1. Executive Summary
   • First studies
   • Wacky interfaces
   • Inconsistent interaction design
   • Crushing print metaphor
   • Card sharks vs. holy scrollers
   • Toward a better iPad user experience
2. Research Method
3. Websites on the iPad
   • Using full sites on the iPad
   • Using mobile sites on the iPad
   • iPad-specific website?
   • App or website?
4. Mental Models
   • Magazine mental models
   • Modeling a different app
5. Beautiful Images
6. The Touch Screen
   • Small target areas
   • Accidental tapping and the Back button
7. Lack of Affordances: Where Can I Tap?
   • Targets that do not look like targets
   • Invisible controls
   • No hyperlinks
8. Getting Lost in an Application
   • The home button
   • The search box
   • Tabs and the iPad’s tab bar
   • Navigation panel on the left
   • Carousels
9. Changing Orientation
10. An Abundance of Gestures
    • Gestures that are too complex
    • Memory for gestures
11. Multiple Panels
    • Small font size and crowded content
    • Lower working memory burden
    • Disconnect between action and feedback
12. Methodology

Related posts:

1. Getting Buy In for Usability Testing
2. Usability Marathon
3. Books on Usability
4. Singapore Silverlight User Group 1st Meeting