The Problem With iPad Apps: Usability

New research from the Nielsen Norman Group finds that although iPad apps have, in the last year, become "less wacky," many interfaces are still confusing for users and usability problems remain.

Despite the implementation of new features such as back buttons, homepages, and more search functions, the researchers found that "this year’s testing still found many cases in which users accidentally touched something and couldn’t find their way back to their start point, as well as magazine apps that required multiple steps to access the table of contents."

A total of 16 iPad users that had at least two months' experience using Apple's tablet participated in the study, the second of its kind, and a total of 26 apps and six websites were tested.

The researchers noted that there were several usability issues that they observed both in this year's study and the previous year's.

Specifically, they found that users had some trouble navigating content that was too small to tap, clicking on touchable areas that were too small and too close together, distinguishing "touchable" areas (which the researchers referred to as a "low discoverability" problem), and avoiding "accidental activation due to unintended touches."

They also observed that users "disliked typing on the touchscreen and thus avoided the registration process," and, in a similar vein, noted in the report that content creation on the iPad is relatively limited. iPad use is "heavily dominated by media consumption, except for the small amount of production involved in responding to emails," they wrote. Using iPads to shop online was not a highly popular endeavor.

Several new iPad app usability issues came to light as well, particularly relating to splash screens (dubbed "super-vampires that can haunt users from beyond the grave"), swipe ambiguity, content popovers, and information squished into areas that are too small to properly navigate.

All of the study participants that lived with others said that they shared their iPads with other users.

Read the full report--which has helpful images of the apps--here.

What do you love--and loathe--about iPad apps? Tell us below, then check out our list of the best iPad apps.

Comments

[gunman1f16]

01:13 PM on 06/01/2011

I can't receive all of my e-mail on the ipad because apple wont allow some images, video, etc. So, I still end up at home on the PC sorting my mail.
The iPad with foreflight is absolutely amazing in my cockpit, can't wait for live weather.

[galvin1105]

11:19 AM on 06/01/2011

Technology has gone way overboard and no one can learn all of these choices in a short time. For those people that are computer shy, but would love to own a simple computer should visit www.goldviolin.com and search for MyGait computer. This computer company is based in Texas and has created a Senior My Gait Elite computer. They even have their own support team in Texas. Sounds like a good American company to me. I purchased it for my 70 yr. old non-computer person and he is beginning to really like using it. Check out the easy way out!

[charpist5]

09:57 PM on 05/31/2011

What is wrong with the iPad? It isn't a Blackberry PlayBook. lol I LOVE my PlayBook.

[Fletch55]

08:56 PM on 05/31/2011

They forgot overpriced,ugly, dorky yuppie stigma, not useful, tooo limited and apple is the new nazi camp.

[karen lyons kalmenson]

04:46 PM on 05/31/2011

i have always been a PC lass
not exactly at the top of the class
than took a bite into the apple
with ipod and ipad
of this recent move
i am very glad
however when i sit in
the park or the beach
screen visibility
is not in reach
so off go the shades
as my eyes squint
and wrinkle
while hubby plays in
the ocean, his blue eyes
a-twinkle.....
hell, it rhymes, okay;-D

[jeb29615]

04:11 PM on 05/31/2011

So why don't you go get a TABLET then??? Or better yet just bang your head against a wall pc's SUCK!!!!!!!

[thx1139]

03:50 PM on 05/31/2011

Really tried out an iPad for the 1st time yesterday. Honestly Apple has left the bar low for competitor. The desktop really is just Windows 3.1 with a sea of icons for each app. Doesnt seem Apple has established any best practices/User Experience guidelines for apps either. Everything is 100% up to the developer of individual apps. If Microsoft adopts the Windows Phone User Experience guidelines for Windows 8 then they really could 1 up Apple.

[Fletch55]

08:57 PM on 05/31/2011

As long as windows 8 does not have those damn panels windows phone 7 has and has an actual desktop UI. Those panels suck so much. Nice clean desktop to populate at will

[James McCloskey]

03:44 PM on 05/31/2011

what i loathe about the ipad with wifi and 3G is i have access to the entire world at my finger tips , showing me where i exactly am, local weather, local traffic and navigation. you can find hotels and resorts or even a last minute weekend getaway or a flight on your ipad, book it and your good to go , and for saving your information , no printer needed, just use the screen shot option , to save what you see on the screen , so there is proof of current and recent transactions, and now you can even get your boarding pass and elelctronic ticket to fly on the ipad.

[Ralph Schuetz]

05:18 PM on 05/31/2011

I think you meant to say "What I love about the iPad..."! And I agree.

[Fletch55]

08:58 PM on 05/31/2011

Ummm yeah any smartphone can do that for under $300 and can be customized without the Apple police coming and you dont have that dorky yuppy stimgam.

[anskyseven]

03:32 PM on 05/31/2011

Love my iPad! Haven't touched my laptop in over a year since I got the iPad! Of course I don't use it for business purposes just for fun but it does what I need it to do! One thing I don't like, and this includes the iPhone and iMac too! When it comes to purchasing apps there should be a way to refund an app that is purchased but does not work the way it was intended! Way too many apps out there that are just plain ripoffs and get trashed almost immediately after loading! Apple should really look into this....but who am I kidding??? LOL!

[spbstevens]

03:21 PM on 05/31/2011

I love my iPad. I take it on business trips instead of my lap top. So much easier to carry. I can access my Word documents, compose, edit, do whatever I need. I receive and send email, read books, have internet access everywhere I go, listen to music, etc., etc., etc.. It is wonderful.

[bohol2528]

03:14 PM on 05/31/2011

Why should I blow $500-$600 on a toy that can't do half of what my laptop doe's? If I can't create on it, what good is it? Everything it doe's my laptop doe's and I can easly add programs to my laptop, and being that the "Ipruke" doesn't and a C.D. rom, I cannot do the same with it. And if I can't do that, then it's nothing but a toy for people with more money than common sense.

[Fletch55]

08:59 PM on 05/31/2011

Exactly...Apple users tend to not be very bright and just do what Steve tells them they want to do .

[isoopto]

12:59 PM on 05/31/2011

You will do what Steve Jobs wants you to do or you will be ignored for as long as he lives. Now, quit your crying as it won't change anything at Apple. Anyone who disagrees with Steve has no value.

[micoft1]

12:09 PM on 05/31/2011

Blame the apps instead of the platform? iPad is an expensive toy. May fit in with your work flow devices as a mobile accessory, but not a replacement. It was over hyped from the beginning and still is. Works great as a movie streamer, news reader and music player. Good for casual games, social media (to a point) and boutique apps that people are willing to suffer through to make work properly. Still has a ways to go.

[Namvet6871]

11:43 AM on 05/31/2011

a whole 16 users wow!

[JohnTheMac]

11:30 AM on 05/31/2011

Things could be worse:
http://blogs.forbes.com/andygreenberg/2011/05/31/twenty-five-more-malware-apps-turn-up-in-googles-android-market/?partner=yahootix