Usability: Difference between revisions

The educational technology and digital learning wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 2: Line 2:
== Definition ==
== Definition ==


* Usability is a term used to denote the ease with which people can employ a particular tool or other human-made object in order to achieve a particular goal. [...] In [[human-computer interaction]] and computer science, usability usually refers to the elegance and clarity with which the user interface of a computer program or a web site is designed. The term is also used often in the context of products like consumer electronics, or in the areas of communication, and knowledge transfer objects (such as a cookbook, a document or online help). It can also refer to the efficient design of a mechanical objects such as a door handle or a hammer. ([[Wikipedia: Usability - retrieved 17:30, 9 June 2006 (MEST)]])
* Usability is a term used to denote the ease with which people can employ a particular tool or other human-made object in order to achieve a particular goal. [...] In [[human-computer interaction]] and computer science, usability usually refers to the elegance and clarity with which the user interface of a computer program or a web site is designed. The term is also used often in the context of products like consumer electronics, or in the areas of communication, and knowledge transfer objects (such as a cookbook, a document or online help). It can also refer to the efficient design of a mechanical objects such as a door handle or a hammer. ([[Wikipedia: Usability]] - retrieved 17:30, 9 June 2006)


* Usability can also refer to the methods of measuring usability and the study of the principles behind an object's perceived efficiency or elegance. ([[Wikipedia: Usability - retrieved 17:30, 9 June 2006 (MEST)]])
* Usability can also refer to the methods of measuring usability and the study of the principles behind an object's perceived efficiency or elegance. ([[Wikipedia: Usability]] - retrieved 17:30, 9 June 2006 )


== Methods ==
See also:
* [[Cognitive ergonomics]], [[Ergonomics]] (types of), [[HCI]] (human computer interaction)
* [[web usability]], a sub-field of usability
* [[web accessibility]], a sub-field of web usability that addresses the question of how to make websites usable by all sorts of people.


Two web sites report usability methods:
== Links ==
 
=== General ===
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usability Usability] (Wikipedia)
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usability_engineering Usability engineering] (Wikipedia)
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usability_testing Usability testing] (Wikipedia)
 
* [http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html Usability 101: Introduction to Usability] by Jakob Nielsen, retrieved 15:10, 18 November 2010 (CET)
 
* [http://www.userfocus.co.uk/fable/index.html User-Centered Design: The Fable of the User-Centered Designer], A nice story in PDF or ePub format by David Travis. (free)
 
=== Methods ===
 
* Both [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usability Usability] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usability_engineering Usability engineering] articles on Wikipedia include lists of methods (and pointers for further reading).
* The [http://jthom.best.vwh.net/usability/ Usability Methods toolbox] by James Hom
* The [http://jthom.best.vwh.net/usability/ Usability Methods toolbox] by James Hom
* [http://www.usabilityhome.com/ Dexter web site]
* [http://www.usabilityhome.com/ Usability Evaluation]  
* [http://www.userfocus.co.uk/articles/index.html Articles & Resources at UserFocus.co.uk]
* [http://www.sensible.com/ sensible.com] (Steve Krug)
** E.g. [http://sensible.com/Downloads/DMMTchapter09_for_personal_use_only.pdf Usability testing on 10 cents a day] Sample chapter from Krug Steve (2000), Don't Make Me Think!, First Edition. (see also  sensible.com]
=== Government ===
 
* [http://www.usability.gov/ Usability.gov] (USA)


See also: [[Cognitive ergonomics]], [[Ergonomics]] (types of) and [[HCI]]
=== Standards ===


* ISO/TR 16982:2002 - "Ergonomics of human-system interaction—Usability methods supporting human-centered design"
* ISO 9241 - "Ergonomics of Human System Interaction" -
** [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9241 ISO 9241 Wikipedia summary]


[[Category: Ergonomics and human-computer interaction]]
[[Category: Ergonomics and human-computer interaction]]


[[fr:Utilisabilité]]
[[fr:Utilisabilité]]

Revision as of 16:10, 18 November 2010

Draft

Definition

  • Usability is a term used to denote the ease with which people can employ a particular tool or other human-made object in order to achieve a particular goal. [...] In human-computer interaction and computer science, usability usually refers to the elegance and clarity with which the user interface of a computer program or a web site is designed. The term is also used often in the context of products like consumer electronics, or in the areas of communication, and knowledge transfer objects (such as a cookbook, a document or online help). It can also refer to the efficient design of a mechanical objects such as a door handle or a hammer. (Wikipedia: Usability - retrieved 17:30, 9 June 2006)
  • Usability can also refer to the methods of measuring usability and the study of the principles behind an object's perceived efficiency or elegance. (Wikipedia: Usability - retrieved 17:30, 9 June 2006 )

See also:

Links

General

Methods

Government

Standards

  • ISO/TR 16982:2002 - "Ergonomics of human-system interaction—Usability methods supporting human-centered design"
  • ISO 9241 - "Ergonomics of Human System Interaction" -
Retrieved from "https://edutechwiki.unige.ch/mediawiki/index.php?title=Usability&oldid=29865"