Usability experts at Nielsen Norman Group say today’s mobile internet is as bad as traditional websites were 15 years ago. In a news release headed “New study finds the mobile user-experience miserable”, the company says it’s identified four main obstacles (in addition to poor coverage) that prevent mobile users from getting a good experience: small screens, awkward input, download delays and mis-designed websites.
Usability studies conducted in the US and UK found that the average success rate for users completing tasks on the mobile internet was 59%, compared to an average 80% success rate when using a conventional PC. Sites designed specifically for mobile devices resulted in an average 64% success rate. [Report; press release via BusinessWire]