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A brief overview of usability
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W Craig TomlinCertified Usability Analyst
Usability: An Overview
W Craig Tomlin, Certified Usability Analyst
www.usefulusability.com
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Is
• A development approach that includes end-user feedback as part of the software development lifecycle:
2
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
Usability test: end users try to conduct specific tasks
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Is
• A development approach that includes end-user feedback as part of the software development lifecycle:
“Usability is an approach toproduct development thatincorporates direct userfeedback throughout thedevelopment cycle in orderto reduce costs and createproducts and tools thatmeet user needs.”*
3*Source: Usability Professionals Association
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
Usability test: end users try to conduct specific tasks
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Is
• Usability adds to the bottom line by:
– Limiting the need for expensivepost-launch “revisions” of software
4
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Is
• Usability adds to the bottom line by:
– Limiting the need for expensivepost-launch “revisions” of software
– Improving user efficiency, which increases conversion
5
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Is
• Usability adds to the bottom line by:
– Limiting the need for expensivepost-launch “revisions” of software
– Improving user efficiency, which increases conversion
– Reducing the time it takes to learn to use an application
6
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Is
• Usability adds to the bottom line by:
– Limiting the need for expensivepost-launch “revisions” of software
– Improving user efficiency, which increases conversion
– Reducing the time it takes to learn to use an application
– Increasing user satisfaction, which positively impacts brand attitudes
7
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Isn’t
• A Focus Group:
– Focus groups are used for eliciting new ideas in a“group think” environment
8
Focus groups explore ideas in a “group-think” environment
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Isn’t
• A Focus Group:
– Focus groups are used for eliciting new ideas in a“group think” environment
– Focus groups do not test specific tasks on a“1-on-1” basis, thus arenot used for usabilitytesting
9
Focus groups explore ideas in a “group-think” environment
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Isn’t
• A Survey:
– Surveys gather attitudes, beliefs & perceptions
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Isn’t
• A Survey:
– Surveys gather attitudes, beliefs & perceptions
– Surveys require large numbers of participants to reduce sampling error
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Isn’t
• A Survey:
– Surveys gather attitudes, beliefs & perceptions
– Surveys require large numbers of participants to reduce sampling error
– Often, what people say in a survey vs. how they actually behave are quite different
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Isn’t
• A Survey:
– Surveys gather attitudes, beliefs & perceptions
– Surveys require large numbers of participants to reduce sampling error
– Often, what people say in a survey vs. how they actually behave are quite different
– Usability testing typically needs only 5-10 users, because the tasks are being tested, not the users
– And actual user behavior is observed, not opinions
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Isn’t
• Expensive:
– Usability can be conducted without an expensive facility, and with a minimum of resources using web-based tools
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Isn’t
• Expensive:
– Usability can be conducted without an expensive facility, and with a minimum of resources using web-based tools
• Time-consuming:
– Best results occur with only 5-10 users in a short period of time, each user conducting a 1 or 2 hour test session
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystWhat Usability Isn’t
• Expensive:
– Usability can be conducted without an expensive facility, and with a minimum of resources using web-based tools
• Time-consuming:
– Best results occur with only 5-10 users in a short period of time, each user conducting a 1 or 2 hour test session
– Preliminary results can be observed while testing, and results compiled in days, not weeks
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystExample – Usable
17
OK, this looks like product categories…
TASK:TASK:Find an electronic kit for a boy’s birthday
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystExample – Usable
18
OK, this looks like product categories…
…and these are a few special deals
TASK:TASK:Find an electronic kit for a boy’s birthday
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystExample – Usable
19
OK, this looks like product categories…
Science Town, electronic kits must be here CLICK
…and these are a few special deals
TASK:TASK:Find an electronic kit for a boy’s birthday
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystExample – Not As Usable
20
Hmmm, where do I start?
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
TASK:TASK:Find an electronic kit for a boy’s birthday
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystExample – Not As Usable
21
Hmmm, where do I start?
Are these products?
Is this the latest product catalog?
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
TASK:TASK:Find an electronic kit for a boy’s birthday
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystExample – Not As Usable
22
Hmmm, where do I start?
Are these products?
What’s this?
What’s this for?
Is this the latest product catalog?
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
TASK:TASK:Find an electronic kit for a boy’s birthday
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystA Cause of Usability Failure
• Many usability failures are caused by designing systems that are not in alignment with the user’s “Mental Map” of a task-flow:
[email protected] | (805) 501-861223
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystA Cause of Usability Failure
• Many usability failures are caused by designing systems that are not in alignment with the user’s “Mental Map” of a task-flow:
[email protected] | (805) 501-861224
Step 1 – Find product categories
Step 2 – Find science kits
Step 3 – Find electronic kit for boy
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystA Cause of Usability Failure
[email protected] | (805) 501-861225
Step 1 – Find product categories
Step 2 – Find science kits
Step 3 – Find electronic kit for boy
Aligned with Mental Map Not Aligned with Mental Map
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability Analyst
• Testing at key points of the Software Development Life Cycle improves usability, because of alignment with the user’s Mental Map
Usability Testing in the SDLC
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability Analyst
• Testing at key points of the Software Development Life Cycle improves usability, because of alignment with the user’s Mental Map
Usability Testing in the SDLC
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability Analyst
• Testing at key points of the Software Development Life Cycle improves usability, because of alignment with the user’s Mental Map
Usability Testing in the SDLC
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability Analyst
• Testing at key points of the Software Development Life Cycle improves usability, because of alignment with the user’s Mental Map
Usability Testing in the SDLC
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability Analyst
• Testing at key points of the Software Development Life Cycle improves usability, because of alignment with the user’s Mental Map
Usability Testing in the SDLC
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystTime vs. Impact on Design
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
Usability’s biggest impact is early in the development process, due to the ability to make changes at minimal resource cost
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystTime vs. Impact on Design
32
Early Development ProductionPrototype
Impact on
Design
Time
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
Usability’s biggest impact is early in the development process, due to the ability to make changes at minimal resource cost
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystTime vs. Impact on Design
33
Early Development ProductionPrototype
Impact on
Design
Time
Ability to Make Changes
“Cost” to Make Changes
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
Usability’s biggest impact is early in the development process, due to the ability to make changes at minimal resource cost
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystUsability Benefits
• Increasing usability = increasing application value• User-friendly systems are simple, they don’t make users think, so
they’re faster & more satisfying, which result in increased:
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystUsability Benefits
• Increasing usability = increasing application value• User-friendly systems are simple, they don’t make users think, so
they’re faster & more satisfying, which result in increased:
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystUsability Benefits
• Increasing usability = increasing application value• User-friendly systems are simple, they don’t make users think, so
they’re faster & more satisfying, which result in increased:
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystUsability Benefits
• Increasing usability = increasing application value• User-friendly systems are simple, they don’t make users think, so
they’re faster & more satisfying, which result in increased:
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystUsability Benefits
• Increasing usability = increasing application value• User-friendly systems are simple, they don’t make users think, so
they’re faster & more satisfying, which result in increased:
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability Analyst2 Types of Usability Tests
• There are many variations of usability testing, but 2 general types:
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability Analyst2 Types of Usability Tests
• There are many variations of usability testing, but 2 general types:
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability Analyst2 Types of Usability Tests
• There are many variations of usability testing, but 2 general types:
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystUsability Testing Steps
• An overview of 1-on-1 usability testing steps:
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
Warning!Get your magnifying glass ready!
(And this is just an overview)
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystUsability Testing Steps
• An overview of 1-on-1 usability testing steps:
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystSummary: Usability Overview
• A development approach that includes end-userfeedback as part of the software development lifecycle:
“Usability is an approach to product development that incorporates direct user feedback throughout the development cycle in order to reduce costs and create products and tools that meet user needs.” (Usability Professional’s Association)
44
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystSummary: Usability Overview
• A development approach that includes end-userfeedback as part of the software development lifecycle:
“Usability is an approach to product development that incorporates direct user feedback throughout the development cycle in order to reduce costs and create products and tools that meet user needs.” (Usability Professional’s Association)
• Usability adds to the bottom line by:
– Limiting the need for expensive post-launch “revisions” of software
– Improving user efficiency, which increases conversion
– Reducing the time it takes to learn how to use a new application
– Increasing user satisfaction, which impacts brand attitudes
45
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystAppendix: Usability Resources
• www.usefulusability.com – My usability web site
• www.upassoc.org – Usability Professional’s Association
• www.ukupa.org.uk – UPA in the United Kingdom
• www.usability.gov – Copious usability information
• www.sigchi.org – Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction
• www.usabilitynet.org – European Union usability group
46
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig TomlinCertified Usability AnalystThank You!
47
[email protected] | (805) 501-8612
W Craig Tomlin,Certified Usability Analyst
www.usefulusability.com