Usability Evaluation Framework: Automated Interface Analysis for Android Applications

Usability evaluation of mobile applications can be a timeconsuming task, especially due to the fact that field studies are often more suitable than laboratory evaluations. However, good user interface design can make the difference between product acceptance and rejection in the marketplace, and is therefore of high relevance for application developers. In this paper, we present an innovative approach for the automated evaluation of the usability of a mobile application, which is based on the background observation and analysis of a user’s behavior when using the application under real-life conditions. We present first results of our ongoing research work on a usability evaluation framework, which should help developers to make mobile applications easier to learn, easier to use and aesthetically more pleasing, and thus lead to a higher usability and acceptance of the applications.