A comparison of performance and preference on mobile devices vs. desktop computers

Sushma Adepu, Rachel F. Adler

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Smartphones and desktop computers are ubiquitous in today's world. Due to the improved computing power and high portability of smartphone devices, users are performing more sophisticated tasks on their smartphones. This study compares the performance of a web-based task on a desktop computer with a mobile-based task on a smartphone. In addition, we have compared the overall user experience and preference across the two devices. In order to achieve this, we created a mobile-based word game for an Android mobile platform and a web-based version of the same word game for a browser platform. Sixty participants were instructed to complete the tasks on both devices. Our results show that while performance on the computer-based game was significantly better than performance on the mobile-based game, people preferred to play on the smartphone rather than the desktop computer. People preferred smartphones over desktop computers on account of their touch-screen features, portability and ease of use, even though they actually performed the task more efficiently on the desktop computers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2016 IEEE 7th Annual Ubiquitous Computing, Electronics and Mobile Communication Conference, UEMCON 2016
EditorsHimadri Nath Saha, Satyajit Chakrabarti
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781509014965
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 7 2016
Externally publishedYes
Event7th IEEE Annual Ubiquitous Computing, Electronics and Mobile Communication Conference, UEMCON 2016 - New York City, United States
Duration: Oct 20 2016Oct 22 2016

Publication series

Name2016 IEEE 7th Annual Ubiquitous Computing, Electronics and Mobile Communication Conference, UEMCON 2016

Conference

Conference7th IEEE Annual Ubiquitous Computing, Electronics and Mobile Communication Conference, UEMCON 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew York City
Period10/20/1610/22/16

Keywords

  • Computer
  • Mobile
  • Performance
  • Preference
  • Smartphone
  • User Experience

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hardware and Architecture
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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