what usability is?
DESCRIPTION
This presentation focuses on explaining what usability really is. Several myths concerning usability (and partially accessibility) are discussed and debunked. Author: Maciej Laskowski (Lublin University of Technology, http://www.pollub.pl) The presentation is published under the license Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs CC BY-NC-ND. More information about license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode. The presentation was created under Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships Project 2012-1-PL1-LEO04-28181 GUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY: EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES (http://usability-accessibility.org/). This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme.TRANSCRIPT
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
What is usability?
Maciej Laskowski
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
There are several different approaches to defining usability.
Moreover, there are also several myths about what usability really is, and what it does.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
2
Introduction
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Usability is difficult and it’s meant to make an
application usable by dumb (aka everyday)
users
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
3
Myth #1
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
4
Myth #1
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
5
Myth #1
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Usability has to be done at any cost!
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
6
Myth #2
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
7
Myth #2
Source: okcancel.com
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Everyone cares about usability and
accessibility
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
8
Myth #3
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
9
Myth #3
Source: okcancel.com
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Usability tests are foolproof – if something is
labeled ”usable”, than it is.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
10
Myth #4
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
11
Myth #4
Source: okcancel.com
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
You have to follow all the rules. Period.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
12
Myth #5
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
13
Myth #5
Source: okcancle.com
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Usability has to be gained at any cost.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
14
Myth #6
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Source: okcancel.com
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
15
Myth #6
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
User-center design leads to engagement.
Engagement to fun.
Fun leads to …
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
16
Myth #7
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
17
Myth #7
Source: okcancel.com
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
In a most simple definition:Usability is the ease of use and learnability of a human-made object.
ISO defines usability as:The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
18
OK, but what really is usability?
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Jakob Nielsen and Ben Shneiderman have written (separately) about a framework of system acceptability, where usability is a part of the broader notion "usefulness" and is composed of:
Learnability Efficiency Memorability Errors Satisfaction
Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
19
OK, but what really is usability?
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Jakob Nielsen and Ben Shneiderman have written (separately) about a framework of system acceptability, where usability is a part of the broader notion "usefulness" and is composed of:
Learnability: How easy is it for users to accomplish basic tasks the first time
they encounter the design? Efficiency Memorability Errors Satisfaction
Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
20
OK, but what really is usability?
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Jakob Nielsen and Ben Shneiderman have written (separately) about a framework of system acceptability, where usability is a part of the broader notion "usefulness" and is composed of:
Learnability Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they
perform tasks? Memorability Errors Satisfaction
Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
21
OK, but what really is usability?
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Jakob Nielsen and Ben Shneiderman have written (separately) about a framework of system acceptability, where usability is a part of the broader notion "usefulness" and is composed of:
Learnability Efficiency Memorability: When users return to the design after a period of not using it,
how easily can they re establish proficiency? Errors Satisfaction
Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
22
OK, but what really is usability?
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Jakob Nielsen and Ben Shneiderman have written (separately) about a framework of system acceptability, where usability is a part of the broader notion "usefulness" and is composed of:
Learnability Efficiency Memorability Errors: How many errors do users make, how severe are these errors,
and how easily can they recover from the errors? Satisfaction
Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
23
OK, but what really is usability?
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Jakob Nielsen and Ben Shneiderman have written (separately) about a framework of system acceptability, where usability is a part of the broader notion "usefulness" and is composed of:
Learnability Efficiency Memorability Errors Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design?
Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
24
OK, but what really is usability?
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
Usability is a non-functional requirement.
As with other non-functional requirements, usability
cannot be directly measured (not necessarily true) but
must be quantified by means of indirect measures or
attributes such as, the number of reported problems
with ease-of-use of a system.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
25
Usability as a functionality
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
26
Usability as a functionality
Source: okcancel.com
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
ISO/TR 16982:2002 (Ergonomics of human-system interaction—Usability methods supporting human-centered design) is a standard that provides information on human-centered usability methods that can be used for design and evaluation.
It details the advantages, disadvantages, and other factors relevant to using each usability method.
It explains the implications of the stage of the life cycle and the individual project characteristics for the selection of usability methods and provides examples of usability methods in context.
Mainly for: project managers!
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
27
ISO standards
Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships ProjectGUI USABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES
ISO 9241 is a multi-part standard that covers a number of aspects of people working with computers.
Although originally titled Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals (VDTs), it has been retitled to the more generic Ergonomics of Human System Interaction.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme
28
ISO standards