Dell

Project/Challenge:

As notebook computers (laptops) become smaller and lighter to increase mobility and business demands intensify, a in-depth understanding of how mobile business users rely on their notebooks is necessary to design and develop technologies to meet their needs.  

Goal:

The primary goal was to determine the appropriate size and layout of an ultra-portable notebook keyboard for mobile business computing. In addition, determine which keys can be removed to allow for more spacing and larger sizing of remaining keys as the keyboard size gets smaller and designers approach the limit of how small individual keys can become for them to still be functional.

Research:

To develop an understanding of current products, the size and keyboards of existing notebooks and smart phones were studied and evaluated. This preliminary evaluation allowed for the development of research protocols, questionnaires, and metrics to determine notebook and keyboard size preferences. Three notebooks, 12”, 9”, and 7” were purchased for the purpose of user trials and focus groups.  

One-on-one interviews and user trials were conducted with mobile business users at a testing facility. Participants were given several tasks to complete with each notebook and questioned about their experiences. Supplementing the one-on-ones, focus groups were conducted to develop a broad understanding of how notebook computers are currently used, problems limiting mobility, and foreseeable problems with the next generation of ultra-portable notebooks.
This combined methodology allowed a thorough investigation of current and potential future tasks for ultra-portable notebooks, appropriate keyboard layout and key sizing, user typing styles, and user preferences.  

Results:

The research provided an in-depth understanding of the factors mobile business users consider to determine when notebooks are too small to provide value. Relating this understanding to the how the notebooks are utilized and for what tasks, allowed for specific recommendations about appropriate notebook size and keyboard layout. This resulted in a new keyboard layout for an 8” notebook providing similar key size, spacing, and benefits of a keyboard found on a larger 12” notebook.