Making an application user-friendly is a key goal when it comes to the experience it intends to deliver. There are numerous factors that have to be taken into account when a design is developed. One of those is simplicity. The application has to be simple enough to ensure the expected user experience. This is often solved by applying instructions. To what extent does the application have to mediate instructions of functionality to the user? That question is the underlying purpose of this thesis. The thesis studies three common ways of presenting instructions to arrive at a concluding result: the use of a popup window, an added information button to the design or relying on the design to present itself. The gathered results show a need for instructions to ensure a user-friendly environment. A further analysis of the results concludes that presenting instructions using an information button is the most prominent option.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / Handheld devices have evolved significantly from mere simple organizers to more powerful handheld computers that are capable of network connectivity, giving it the ability to send e-mail, browse the World Wide Web, and query remote databases. However, handheld devices, because of its design philosophy, are limited in terms of size, memory, and processing power compared to desktop computers. This thesis investigates the use of Data Flow Query Language (DFQL) in querying local and remote databases from a handheld device. Creating Standard Query Language (SQL) queries can be a complex undertaking; and trying to create one on a handheld device with a small screen only adds to its complexity. However, by using DFQL, the user can submit queries with an easy to use graphical user interface. Although handheld devices are currently more powerful than earlier PCs, they still require applications with a small footprint, which is a limiting factor for software developed. This thesis will also investigate the best division of labor between handheld device and remote servers. / Sergeant, United States Army