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history of usability |
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Usability
emerged as a result of the intensive research into
and use of more advanced technology during the Second
World War. It was realised that the adaptation of
machines to the human operator increased human-machine
reaction, speed and performance. The science soon
spread into the field of telecommunications and
finally computers. In the U.S. this realisation
led to the testing and wholesale redesigning of
all digital technology, a usability revolution.
Bennett (1979)
was the first to use the term usability
to describe the effectiveness of Human performance.
In the following years a more formal definition
was proposed by Shackel
(1981) and modified by Bennett
(1984). Finally, Shackel (1991) simply defined usability
as " the capability to be used by humans easily
and effectively, where,
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easily |
= to a specified level
of subjective assessment |
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effectively |
= to a specified level
of Human performance |
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what is usability? |
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Usability
addresses the full spectrum of impacts upon user
success and satisfaction. Usability can be accomplished
through user-centered design, although various
techniques are employed (eg Psychological perspectives
and software driven perspectives). The usability
designer provides a point-of-view that is not
dependent upon computer programming goals because
the usability designer's role is to act as the
users' advocate. For example, after interacting
with users, the usability designer may identify
needed functionality or design flaws that were
not anticipated. There are a number of definitions
for the quality aspect of usability, including
this one from ISO 9241-11:
- "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."
- "The effectiveness,
efficiency and satisfaction with which specified
users achieve specified goals in particular
environments."
Apart from this definitions there are plethora of
information floating around on the net. Usability
is one of the focuses of the field of Human-Computer
Interaction. If you ask me, Usability is more of
making a product/ application / device function
simple, easy to use, less time to orient the user,
fast to load/start, less complicated and overall
to provide the user with a pleasing user experience.
Usability, is a generic term which does not restricts
its application to specific field overall it can
be utilized in various multidisciplinary fields.
For eg. you can design a small paper application
form in such a simple way, so that the applicant
need not come back to you and ask how to fill in
the form. The boundries are limitless and there
is lot more you can do. Usability has finds it place
in Information technology from long time. |
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who works in
usability ? |
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The people who
are mostly from the disciplines of human factors
psychology, social psychology, industrial engineering,
technical communications, developmental psychology,
information science, human computer interaction
engineering and computer science. Apart from the
above people Interactive designers, information
designers, Information architects, web designers
and graphic designers. |
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why is usability
important ? |
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Usability
is the measure of the quality of a user's experience
when interacting with a product or system - whether
a web site, software application, mobile technology,
or any user-operated device. According to Jakob
Neilson, a reknowed web-usability guru, states
"On the Web, usability is a necessary condition
for survival. If a website is difficult to use,
people leave. If the homepage fails to clearly state
what a company offers and what users can do on the
site, people leave. If users get lost on a website,
they leave. If a website's information is hard to
read or doesn't answer users' key questions, they
leave. Note a pattern here? There's no such thing
as a user reading a website manual or otherwise
spending much time trying to figure out an interface.
There are plenty of other websites available; leaving
is the first line of defense when users encounter
a difficulty."
Above all, if the company wants to sale/services
to customers, they should re-think usability before
putting their site online. As in todays world various
companies are already investing millions of dollars
to make their web presence more usable. |
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benefits
for e-commerce site: |
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- More efficient user tasks lead to better sales
- Increased satisfaction leads to increased
trust and helps to build a company's brand
- Increased effectiveness, satisfaction and
trust lead to increased customer loyalty, and
to more repeated customers (who, on the average,
spend more than first-time customers)
- Reduced errors and more effective user activities
lead to a higher percent of successful transactions
(at same cost of hardware and software)
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benefits
for portal site: |
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- An enhanced image of the company, through
an increased user satisfaction
- A better user experience
- Increased user effectiveness
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how to evaluate
usability ? |
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there are various
methods practiced in the industry they are listed
below. The list consists of the best known processes
used for evaluation. The methods are : |
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• Think
Aloud User testing |
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• Focus
Groups |
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Bibolography |
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Jakob
Nielson's well known site www.useit.com
www.usablenet.com |
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