MAWA: Enhancing mobile web browsing through web augmentation for improved user experience

Abstract

In recent years, mobile devices have witnessed an exceptional surge in web browsing, emerging as the primary information source. Developers, however, struggle to cater to every user’s needs, compelling users to customize web content. Moreover, mobile interactions, including URL typing, scrolling, tapping, and tab-switching, are more cumbersome due to limited screen size, leading to an unpleasant web experience. Web Augmentation offers a solution by enhancing the user experience, reducing interactions, and meeting information needs. We introduce MAWA, a Firefox mobile extension that empowers users to adapt websites. Results demonstrate MAWA’s effectiveness in reducing interactions, battery consumption, and information retrieval time.

Keywords

• Human–computer interaction
• End-user development
• Web augmentation
• Customization
• Mobile browser