Usability of Token-based and Remote Electronic Signatures: A User Experience Study

TL;DR

This study empirically compares token-based and remote electronic signatures, focusing on end-user usability and perceived security through a controlled three-phase study with 20 participants. Remote e-signatures emerge as significantly more usable due to minimal setup and cross-device accessibility, while token-based signatures are perceived as more secure because of hardware-based protection. Although a majority lean toward remote signing, the preference does not reach conventional statistical significance, underscoring a usability-security trade-off in practice. The findings offer practical guidance for design and policy decisions around qualified electronic signatures and motivate hybrid approaches that balance convenience with robust security.

Abstract

As electronic signatures (e-signatures) become increasingly integral to secure digital transactions, understanding their usability and security perception from an end-user perspective has become crucial. This study empirically evaluates and compares two major e-signature systems -- token-based and remote signatures -- through a controlled user experience study with 20 participants. Participants completed tasks involving acquisition, installation, and document signing using both methods, followed by structured surveys and qualitative feedback. Statistical analyses revealed that remote e-signatures were perceived as significantly more usable than token-based ones, due to their minimal setup and platform-independent accessibility. In contrast, token-based signatures were rated as significantly more secure, highlighting users' trust in hardware-based protection. Although more participants preferred remote e-signatures for document signing, the preference did not reach statistical significance, indicating a trend toward favoring convenience in real-world scenarios. These findings underline the fundamental trade-off between usability and perceived security in digital signing systems. By bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks and real user experience, this study contributes valuable insights to the design and policymaking of qualified electronic signature solutions.