The 9th International Conference on

Computer Science & Education (ICCSE 2014)

August 22-24, 2014. Vancouver, Canada.

SaP3.9

The Research of Human-Machine Interactions Unity

on lOS and Android Smartphone Platform
Minghui Hu

Peng Bian

Nairen Zhang

School of Mechanical and Vehicular

School of Art and Design

School of Design and Arts

Engineering

North China University of Technology

Beijing Institute of Technology

Beijing Institute of Technology

Beijing, China

Beijing, China

Beijing, China

camus10047@163.com

184639923@qq.com
newly developed on-line app will also be difficult to seize the

Abstract-This paper recapitulate the trend that the perfect

interaction between smart phone and human is user-centered,

user's time and attention. [2J

which make the mobile not only a tool, but a emotional partner.

It is because of the huge potential market size, more and

From the investigation, we learn what the users regard android

more developers developed their application for smart phone,

mobile as, and understand that the user care only about the

and features of software are also become more and more

functionality to do their work rather than the characteristics of

complex. There are many developers designed their work

the android. We advance some principles which were based on

the discussion to help designer to do user-centered interaction

simply and rudely which lead to the obvious problems of user

design,

experience, because they designed its own business logic by

and

will

lead

to

the

user-centered,

reassuring,

simply copy the system's control.

comfortable and consumer-satisfied human-machine interface.

the

For smart phone, when the application provided similar

characteristics of interactive manner, the paper put forward

services and functions to users, the small screen and use scene

some Prediction Technology, by which can be used to design a

makes the user experience become an important factor in the

Combining

with

traditional

interaction

design

and

user-centered system.

application software selection. The core of the user experience

should be designing software interactive interface from the

Keywords: mobile; android; lOS; human-machine interface;

interaction design;
I.

user's point, rather than based on system controls to build a

interactive interface.

INTRODUCTION

Despite the popular of smart phone in the market, there are

still many developers focus only functionality and system,

With the development of communication, information

they spend less time and energy focusing on user experience

and computer technology in china, Smartphone has been

design, which care for the customer to use the software. We

integrated into the working life of people, and we can work,

can find a lot of app which make their users feel hard to

study, play, and share with others quickly and freely by

understand the information on the interface, and difficult to

Smartphone. It was by the smart phone that people are more

convenient

than

ever.

According

to

well-known

interactive with the system.

IT

Earlier studies mostly focused on the function of the smart

consulting research firm iResearch recently released report,

phone, such as how to search and set the position, how to

2011-2012 China Mobile Internet Industry Annual Report

simple version,

achieve a variety of lines to drive. Little researcher concerned

shows that 2011 China's smart phone

the user experiences, and whether the interaction is suited for

shipments reached 72.1 million, an increase of 103.1%, the

user to operate. We can find a lot of apps have different

intelligent mobile increased quickly and The total amounts of

interactive interface on lOS and Android, and users may feel

app which run on lOS and Android mobile application

confused for the difference of the interaction. Now, some

platforms are more than 500,000. By the 2011 China's mobile

designers have studied on the user's recognition,

Internet users reached 356 million, iResearch said the number

would exceed the number of desktop Internet users around

practical insights into user behaviors about office software.

2015. [1]
According to 2012

Based on this background, this study investigates the effect

the trends report of mobile internet

of user behavior and psychology about using app on android.

which was released by Baidu.com, The top 1000 APPs in most

Forty-seven peoples, who come from different place, will

downloaded app stores (application number accounting for

answer our questions on this investigation and we want to find

less than 0.1% of the total), accounted for 55% of total

out a way to prove that a unity of interaction design of app on

downloads. That means all the app which can be obtained by

lOS and android is a better strategy of user-centered design.

users less than one thousandth, more important was 2012 Q3

frequency app occupy 83% of users' time, and in 2013 Q1, the

TT.

data increased to 85%, this trends result is that, not only when

METHOD

a)

used long-existing app ranking app will be swallowed, those

978-1-4799-2951-1/14/$31.00 2014 IEEE

body

functions, their behavior in front of screen of smart phone, and

640

Participants

SaP3.9

Test object is positioned for those who are users of smart

phone and frequently use Android mobile, and this test will

beijing

include professional users (software developers, professional

Internet and mobile users) and Normal level user (non-IT

34.04%

shanghai

executives and other technical professional staff). Among of

21.28%

zhejiang

them, there are at least 10 testers who are very convenient with

2.13%
henan 2.13%

Android.
We had invited 60 users to take part in our investigation,
and a total of 47 persons aged 25-35 years had completed all
parts of the test. They came from different places in china,
such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou etc. Compared to the

Figure I. The regional distribution of Android testers

user's distribution and proportion of Smartphone, our testers'

From 47 tests of questionnaire survey, we found that 68%

distribution is similar with it, which, to some extent, stands for

testers were habit to hit the menu key to call menus which was

trend of the mobile phone.

b)

hided default in android. 19.15% testers choose "this function

Survey questionnaire

is not intuitive", and 12.77% users don't care about it.

In order to get some suggestions and optimize the

interaction design of apps, the questionnaire focused on
catching the users' opinions to the user interaction design of
existing android system. The experiments had two parts; firstly,
we

invite

users

to

answer

several

questions

on

the

Non intuitive
19.15%

questionnaire. Secondly, testers were asked to have an open

presentation. The questions as follows:

I.

What your opinion on the menu which was called by

key on android?
A: Non intuitive. B: Don't care. C: I am used to it.
2.

What your opinion on the showing menu on bottom of

UC browser?
A: Like it.

Figure 2. The opinion on the key to call menu on android

B: Okay, let alone good or bad. C: Do not like.

47% testers like the layout of UC browser, which set the

Where did you like the navigation menu be placed?

3.
A: Top.

B: Bottom.

menu bar on the bottom of screen on lOS and Android, but 30%

C: Don't care.

users said they don't like the interface design, 23% people

If you have been showed navigation menu items

4.

don't care about.

directly, is that more intuitive?

A: Well

B: Don't care.

C: Don't like.

Which will you choose between screen size and

5.

Like it

software intuitive ease of use by showing menu default?

A: Prefer screen size.

B: Prefer clear and ease of use.

How do you think about more intuitive and clear

6.

Let alone
23.4%

android phone software?

A: Default rendering navigation bar. B: Press the menu button

Do nOllike
29.79%

appears. C: Don't care.

What your opinion of UC browser which had the

7.

same interactive interface on lOS and Android?

A: Same layout is better.
Ill.

B: So-so

D: Don't like.

Figure 3. The opinion on the showing menu on bottom of UC browser

RESULT

From the survey of where should the menu be, we found

that 57.45% users choose bottom, 27.66% expected the menu

A. Questionnaire survey

was placed top.

Participates in the activities all have android phones, their

evaluation criteria to some extent reflects the views of the
android users. And, compared to the user's distribution and
proportion of Smartphone, our testers' distribution is similar
with it, which, to some extent, can also stand for trend of the
mobile phone.

641

SaP3.9

lJefuult rendering navigation bar

Top

42.55%

Don't
14.89%

Bottom
57

Don't care

12.77%

Press the menu button

44.6B%

Figure 4. The navigation menu be placed

Figure 7. The attitude on

48.94% users feel the menu bar clearly if they was designed
on the bottom of screen default, and 36.17% persons don't like

more intuitive interface is

About 51.06% users feel the same layout of interface is

it, there were 14.89% testers don not care about it.

efficiently and easily to use, 10.04% persons said they don't

like it, 38.3% persons need to adapt to the interface because the
interface was different.

Well

148.94%

0"''1

Same layout is better

51.06

Doo't care

14.B9%

Don't like
10.64%
So-so

38.3%

Figure 5. The attitude on showing menu bar directly

The investigation shows that 63.83% users expected the

interaction clearly and easily by showing menu default.

Figure 8. The attitude on showing menu same face on lOS and Android

Another 36.17% persons prefer the screen size. The result show
B.

some different to us.

Analyse
HMI (Human Machine Interface) is media between man

and machine or system to transmit information to each other,

the research focus on optimizing the human and machine
(system) mutual exchange of information in the process of

Prefer screen size

information
making,

identification,

processing,

analysis,

decision

input or output, interactive feedback and other

systemic factors for smart phone application. To software

running on the OS, we need to create and analyze the
psychological,

cognitive,

behavioral

models,

before

the

establishment of human-machine interface system model, and

then establish and design human-machine interface. Better
HMI application software should be easy to learn, easy to
understand, efficient, and easy to operate and enable users to
feel happy.

Figure 6. The attitude on showing menu bar default

From the survey of intuitive interface, 42.55% users

From the investigation of smart mobile, we knew that smart

regarded rendering menu bar default on screen was well, and

phone is the important tool for staffs. During the test, some

there were also 44.68% people like what the android had

testers looked for function points based on their previous

designed. Another 12.77% testers do not care about the

similar software habits; professional users using android were

difference.

significantly more well than the normal people, so they can

finish the test better than another. [3J Users often turn to the
screen to find the function they want, when they cannot find the
function points, or feel confusion with something.
Users expect that the apps are very easy and efficient to use
for them, they just want to do their work by your app, and do
not care about the character of android. What so-called system

642

SaP3.9

features was little significance to the average user, in addition

intrinsic purpose and external form. When users see our

to professional users. So the unity of interaction design on lOS

interface on their mobile, they may feel a sense of order, not a

and Android smart phone may be a better way to developer.

restless mood and hastily, anxiety for information.

C. Understandable

The data, that 51.06% users feel the same layout of

interface is efficiently and easily to use and 38.3% persons

The interface of software must be easy to read, understand

need to adapt to, told us If we want develop a software which

and use for all users between lOS and Android. The interactive

would run on lOS and Android, the interface and interaction is

manner should be generally unity and simple to operate, not

necessary to consider consistency. This seems to be common

need to undertake special training.

stock, although some fans or professional android would think

the interface is unnecessary and the interface is not clean.
IV.

D.

Simple and square structure shape is the most advisable and

DISCUSS AND CONCLUSION

From

market

perspective,

Interface design

the most suitable for the interface of mobile, and designer must
providing

consistent

simple the thought to give users too many choices. The

interaction design and interface layout on lOS and Android

interface of mobile must focus on their main task and functions

mobiles can help to form using habits of products and to build

and cut out any information which may influence user's

services brand, also help to affect the saying in a wider range of

experience.

world. The purpose of the current test is that study and inspect
the methods of user interaction design for Smartphone which

E.

Icon design

was used by staffs. Through usability tests, the study analyzed

Icon on the screen of mobile must be recognized easily for

the users' physiological and psychological characteristics about

users, which means icons and graphics must express their

the behavior of using mobile and the operation ability. In the

contents and the corresponding operation. In other words, we

subject of the study, samples are chosen according to different

must design an icon by setting clear layout, strong color and

environments and different education background, but they

size contrasts of the function, which may make users to

have android mobile. Coming from different places, they had

understand easily.

different education background and work experience, such as

high knowledge, low-medium education and low education.

F. Color design
The unified and harmonious colors are the most favorite

Though the people cannot represent the entire user, the study

principle for software design, which can help people form a

carried out the interface design strategies on lOS and Android

unified visual identity habit. So, the colors should be unified

according to the results, as following.

and harmonious, such as silver-gray, black, green-ash, black

A. User-centered principle

red, and blue-gray. The function keys color should be the dark
green for run, red for stop. On the other hand the contrast of

Whether can let users rapidly obtain the needed information

color will make pattern or icon easier to read for users.

and interaction are primary standard to measure system's

efficiency. Efficiency ofTnformation interaction with users to a

V.

great extent is determined by the method of user-centered

interaction design, and logic organization. [4]
B.

The author will acknowledge the unbreakable enthusiasm

of the participants of this study. We also wish to convey our

Aesthetic Principle

thanks for the valuable suggestions provided from reviewer.

Whether the design of interface is success or not, are

[1]

decided by how they satisfY peoples' need friendly and

efficiently. [5] Interface design is no longer simply to packing
Whether the interaction design is in line with the public
aesthetic psychology or not, will directly affect the interaction,

interaction

design

refer

to

[2]

Tongji.baidu.com, 2012 the trends report of mobile internet.

[3]

Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, About

face 3: The essentials of

Interaction Design, China: Electronics lndusty, 2012

even affect the entire site recognition by the user community.

in

Iresearch.cn Data&Report, 2011-2012 China Mobile Internet Industry

Annual Report simple version

up all kinds of information, function and buttons on the screen.

Aesthetic

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

[4]

Donald A. Norman, The Design of Everyday Things, China: CTTIC,

[5]

Alan

2003

coordination

Cooper,The

Way

Electronics Industy, 2012

between function and form, which means a interaction design

on lOS and Android should be regularity, order and systemic in
function, as well as the unified logic aesthetic feeling between

643

of

Running

Interaction

Design,

China: