The purpose of this study was to explore graduate student perceptions of use and the ease of use of multi-modal tablets to access electronic course materials, and the perceived differences based on students’ gender, age, college of enrollment, and previous experience. This study used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology to identify the constructs that may explain a graduate student’s intention to use a multi-modal tablet in graduate course work. This study administered the UTAUT to 224 graduate students from four different colleges at a regional university. The models developed from the UTAUT explained 80% of the variability in Behavioral Intention values and 55% of the reported Use values. The results of the study showed that only Performance Expectancy, Social Influence, Hedonic Motivation, and Habit showed significance in explaining Behavioral Intention. Performance Expectancy, Hedonic Motivation, and Habit also showed moderately strong to strong correlations with Behavioral Intention. The regression analysis revealed a positive significant relationship with reported Use and Habit and reported Use and Behavioral Intention. Habit and Behavioral Intention both had strong correlations with reported Use. Habit affects the relationship of Performance Expectancy and Behavioral Intention. Habit, Price Value, or Hedonic Motivation did not have a significant affect on the relationship between Behavioral Intention and Effort Expectancy or Behavioral Intention and Social Influence. When trying to explain a graduate student’s intention to use a multi-modal tablet, only Performance Expectancy, Habit, Social Influence, Hedonic Motivation, and Previous Experience appeared to sufficiently explain whether a student intends to adopt the device. Across age groups, intention to use the tablet device does not vary by age in this study. There were no differences in Behavioral Intention among groups by college enrollment. Individuals with more experience using a tablet, as measured in years, have a higher predicted intention to use the tablet in the future than individuals with no previous experience using a tablet. Individuals with 5 or more years using a multi-modal tablet have a higher intention to use the device than those with less than 3 years experience. The results of this study support the concept that Habit is the strongest predictor of Use in the framework.

The purpose of this work was to find what User Interface adjustments are most suitable for elderly users from the age of 60. The adjustments looked upon in this research were regarding three areas: navigation, progress bar and element design. Each area consisted of two characteristics that were compared against each other. Navigation had a slide-out sidebar and top navigation bar as characteristics. While the progress bar and element design had the characteristics of with and without a progress bar as well as icons and detailed images respectively. The research method was to put these characteristics in two prototypes. Then five elderly tested these prototypes as if they were two different prototypes of an application rather than a test of a specific User Interface design. The data were analysed through three aspects for each of the areas: effectiveness (number of errors), efficiency (time efficient) and user satisfaction. The conclusion of the analysis was that the top navigation bar and progress bar were the better User Interface adoptions. While regarding the element design there was not an as clear answer. What was significant was what the image or icon represents is clear, though the elderly user seems to prefer images / Syftet med detta arbete var att hitta de användargränssnittsjusteringar som är lämpligast för äldre användare från 60 års ålder. De inkluderade justeringarna i denna forskning var dessa tre områden: navigering, förloppsindikator och elementdesign. Varje område bestod av två egenskaper som jämfördes jämt emot varandra. Navigation hade ett utdragbar sidofält och övre navigeringsfält som egenskaper. Medan förloppsindikatorn och elementdesignen hade egenskaperna med och utan förloppsindikator respektive ikoner och detaljerade bilder. Forskningsmetoden var att sätta dessa egenskaper i två olika prototyper. Dessa testades sedan av fem äldre som att de vore applikationsprototyper snarare än ett test av ett specifik användargränssnitt. Data analyserades utifrån tre aspekter för var och ett av områdena: effektivitet (antal användningsfel) och verkan (tids effektivitet) och tillfredsställelse. Analysen kom fram till att det översta navigeringsfältet och förloppsfältet var de bättre anpassningarna. Gällande elementdesignen var svaret inte lika klart. Det betydelsefulla där var att det bilden eller ikonen representerar är tydligt för användaren, däremot verkar de äldre användarna föredra bilder över ikoner.

The theoretical part of this thesis deals with the role of usability in relation to the expansion of mobile touch-screen devices. It studies how the purchase decisions of users of these devices can be influenced and how to avoid unnecessary web usability obstacles. The practical part examines mobile traffic and usability of selected online stores. Based on the practical and theoretical knowledge there are recommendations for creating an accessible and usable website, evaluation of the potential benefits and calculation of payback period of an given investment.