When and why do users access social network websites using the PC and when do they prefer using mobile devices or some other devices? Are websites accessed from different devices required to offer the same features or is each device used for a certain purpose? Can the application of Responsive Web Design assure that they offer the same features? What kind of layout is the most appealing for each device? The goal of my master thesis was to answer these and many other questions.
A general need for unification of features offered by social media websites (Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter) was determined through the estimation of users´ habits. This estimation was done by conducting an online survey and observation of the users. The current usability of the mentioned systems was analyzed based on Nielsen´s Heuristics. New design solutions were formed based on the results of the survey, observation process and heuristic evaluation.
The design solutions for all four networking sites (Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter) were implemented in a prototype building using prototyping online tool Proto.io. Finally, the prototypes were tested in Usability Laboratory using eye tracking method.
