Human Computer Interaction Report: Analysis of WhatsApp Functionality

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the WhatsApp application from a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) perspective. It begins with an introduction emphasizing the importance of user-centered design and satisfaction. The discussion section delves into the functionality of WhatsApp, evaluating its design objectives and how it provides system visibility to the user. The report then explores how WhatsApp addresses cognitive load, considering its impact on user experience. It also examines human factors in the application's use, such as navigation and user testing. Furthermore, the report assesses WhatsApp's compliance with accessibility guidelines. The report concludes with recommendations for improving functionality, mitigating cognitive load, considering human factors, and enhancing accessibility. The analysis is supported by relevant references, offering a detailed and insightful evaluation of the application's design and user experience.

Running head: HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION
HUMAN COMPUTER IN INFO TECH
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Authors Note:

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Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
Discussion............................................................................................................................2
Analysis of Application Functionality.............................................................................2
Application tackling cognitive load.................................................................................2
Human factor on the use of application...........................................................................3
Application follow compliance and accessibility guideline............................................3
Recommendation.............................................................................................................3
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................4
References............................................................................................................................5

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Introduction
Application should be designed in the user can easily achieve the respective goal and
have satisfaction after using it (Oulasvirta et al., 2012). In this report a proper analysis has been
carried out functionality of WhatsApp, the method to tackle the cognitive load has been
discussed. After that proper analysis of WhatsApp has been in regarding to the of application.
Compliance and accessibility guidelines for WhatsApp has been discussed in the coming pages
of the report.
Discussion
Analysis of Application Functionality
Objective of design and evaluation for certain number of user provides them to achieve
the goals and satisfy their requirement. WhatsApp is designed in such a way that it can provide
visibility of system to the user (Salvendy, 2012). User must have proper information about the
operation of the system. The information must be easily displayed on the screen with minimum
time. WhatsApp provides a proper match between the system and existing or real world.
WhatsApp is designed in such a way that it can easily have consistency and standards for its
users from round the globe.
Application tackling cognitive load
Cognitive load theory can be defined as the amount of memory capacity which is
required for processing a given amount of information. As the amount or quantity of information
increases cognitive load on the application increases (Martins, Oliveira & Popovič, 2014). When
the value or amount of information and instructions in an application increases then it will limit

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the function of this application that is WhatsApp (Hao et al.,2014). Cognitive model is generally
of three types that are sensory, working and long term memory.
Human factor on the use of application
WhatsApp provides a straightforward screen for navigation which will ultimately provide
a large number of functionality for the user. User present in the end must have testing application
for large number of user (Ongtang et al., 2012). Designer of the application must have clear
understanding of the business environment in which this application that is WhatsApp will work.
WhatsApp is designed in such a way that all the use case is designed are written in the designing
of the application. This application is designed in such a way that it can easily meet the
requirements of the application which will help in maintaining a proper balance between the
screen which is totally packed with data and screens which require too much amount of
drilldown for achieve or gathering of data.
Application follow compliance and accessibility guideline
WhatsApp is designed in such a way that it follows all the accessibilities guidelines. It is
designed in such a way that it does not hamper or damage the accessibility guideline for various
mobile application (Leiva et al., 2012). Various organization round the globe are working to
build application which can easily offer desired level of testing. Various tools like accessibility
checker is used to check the of accessible an application is. Large number of mobile testing
application are developed which analyzing the accessibility of large number of application.
Recommendation
Cognitive load: WhatsApp should be redesign in such a way that it can easily tackle excessive
load for an organization. This application must be designed in such a way potential errors are

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kept at a minimum value. Various user round the globe do not want any kind of issue which is
beyond their level of approach.
Functionality: Digital platform is something where backwards steps are should be made
possible which is inclusive of undoing and redoing of previously done action. Message once type
on the messaging screen cannot be undone and this considered to a disadvantage of WhatsApp.
Human factor: WhatsApp should be designed in such a that it can be easily installed by user
from various language and cultural background. Developer should try to incorporate all
languages to the user does not face any issue regarding the installation.
Accessibility: WhatsApp should be designed in such a that it follows Web content guidelines for
various application. WCAG2 is designed in such a way it has certain principles for various
mobile application.
Conclusion
From the above discussion it can be easily concluded that this application is all about
analyzing the various parameters of this application that is WhatsApp. Proper analysis has been
carried out on various parameters like functionality, cognitive load, human factor, accessibility
guidelines of the application. In the above pages of the report certain number of recommendation
in respect to functionality, human factor, accessibility and cognitive load of project has been
discussed in details.

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References
Ongtang, M., McLaughlin, S., Enck, W., & McDaniel, P. (2012). Semantically rich application‐
centric security in Android. Security and Communication Networks, 5(6), 658-673.
Oulasvirta, A., Rattenbury, T., Ma, L., & Raita, E. (2012). Habits make smartphone use more
pervasive. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 16(1), 105-114.
Salvendy, G. (2012). Handbook of human factors and ergonomics. John Wiley & Sons.
Martins, C., Oliveira, T., & Popovič, A. (2014). Understanding the Internet banking adoption: A
unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and perceived risk
application. International Journal of Information Management, 34(1), 1-13.
Hao, S., Liu, B., Nath, S., Halfond, W. G., & Govindan, R. (2014, June). Puma: Programmable
ui-automation for large-scale dynamic analysis of mobile apps. In Proceedings of the
12th annual international conference on Mobile systems, applications, and services (pp.
204-217). ACM.
Leiva, L., Böhmer, M., Gehring, S., & Krüger, A. (2012, September). Back to the app: the costs
of mobile application interruptions. In Proceedings of the 14th international conference
on Human-computer interaction with mobile devices and services (pp. 291-294). ACM.