TABLE OF CONTENTS The aim of this chapter is to have a look at some of our individual characteristics that could have an impact on how we use, and our attitude towards, mobile applications, devices and services. This is an important area to consider because many designers of mobile information and communication technology (ICT) devices (and non-mobile ICTs for that matter) appear to have a generic user group in mind when they develop a product (Chen et al., 2000). It's like a one size fits all approach. Hopefully, this chapter will make you aware of the fact that there are differences between the different groups of people who use mobile device; and by being aware of their needs, designers could develop products and services that are accessible and usable to a wide range of people. The following sections provide a description of these individual characteristics and explanation of how they could have a significant effect on the user's use and perception of mobile phone devices and applications.
Spatial ability refers to the extent to which individuals can deal with spatial relations and the visualisation of spatial tasks. Real world tasks, such as learning to move through the physical environment we are in without bumping into objects (or other people), working out the trajectory of an approaching object (in order to dodge out of its way, perhaps), as well as more intellectual tasks such as designing a bridge over a river, all appear to require some degree of spatial...
