Usability Evaluation of the Karafs Application: A Qualitative Study Using the Think-Aloud Method

Area of Science:

• Mobile Health
• Usability Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• The Karafs application is a widely used mobile health tool in Iran with nearly 5 million users.
• It offers features for personalized diet plans, healthy cooking, and sports training to promote healthier lifestyles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usability of the Karafs mobile application.
• To identify user interaction challenges and areas for improvement within the application.
• To enhance the overall effectiveness and user experience of the Karafs app.

Main Methods:

• The think-aloud method was employed to assess the Karafs application.
• Fifteen participants (13 women, 2 men; mean age 22 years) engaged in the usability evaluation.
• Identified usability problems were categorized and their severity was assessed.

Main Results:

• Several usability issues were detected, predominantly concerning unclear system messages and navigation difficulties.
• The majority of identified problems were minor, yet they had a notable impact on user efficiency.
• The think-aloud method proved effective in uncovering these user interaction challenges.

Conclusions:

• The think-aloud method successfully identified usability issues within the Karafs application.
• Addressing the identified usability problems can significantly improve the application's functionality.
• Enhancements to the Karafs app can further support users in adopting healthier lifestyle choices.