This study uses an Interactive Genetic Algorithm (IGA), a design space searching method, to determine the degree to which a user’s current mobile phone impacts their design preference, and how features in a product can change preference. IGAs mimic evolution by iteratively converging towards a design while exploring a design space through random mutations. 20 participants, 10 current Apple iPhone owners, and 10 non-iPhone owners were asked to use a web-based IGA tool to design touchscreen and non-touchscreen phones for dialing use only. Similar to other IGA mobile phone work (Nathan-Roberts & Liu 2010), the IGA varied screen size, button spacing, and phone radius independently. Results showed iPhone users, and non-iPhone users did have different design preferences, but that there was a bigger difference between touchscreen phone owners (iPhone and non-iPhone touchscreen phones), and non-touchscreen phone owners. Overall participants had significantly different preferences for touchscreen and non-touchscreen designs for all variables except for the vertical button spacing, and phone radius. This work is part of a larger research study of aesthetic ergonomics of mobile phones, specifically looking at usability, and the capacity of users to combine multiple goals in design. Future research needs are discussed, including further testing the effect of non-iPhone touchscreen phone ownership.

Proceedings of HFES 55th Annual Meeting, 2011.