Understanding end-users' perspectives: Towards developing usability guidelines for disaster apps

Abstract

Several mobile applications (apps) targeted for use by the public during disasters already exist. A large amount of research has been conducted to investigate the functionalities of these apps in aiding the public during disasters; however, only a few studies have investigated the apps' usability in the context of crises. In acute situations, seemingly minor issues can become critical concerns. This study develops usability guidelines for app designers and researchers using an iterative design process. The proposed usability guidelines consider concerns raised by end-users and provide three main recommendations: make critical information salient; account for cognitive load; and build trust.